Jeffery Odom and Zach Johnson hang an American flag on a Covington Electric bucket truck in preparation of today’s Next Step Career Expo at the Kiwanis Community Center.

Some 80 businesses and 800 students from Covington County Schools, Andalusia City Schools and Opp City Schools will take part in the interactive career fair.

This is the second year the expo has been held.

The event begins at 8:30 a.m., and runs until 1 p.m. Among the businesses participating are Southeast Alabama Gas District, Covington Electric Cooperative, PowerSouth, Alabama Fire College, National Guard Recruiters, local dentists and doctors offices, Andalusia Regional Hospital and Mizell Memorial Hospital and more.

Students will have the opportunity to learn more information about careers such as potential salary, required training or education, benefits and more.