U.S. Chamber Announces Expansion of ‘Hiring Our Heroes’ Veterans Employment Program

Minneapolis Hiring Fair Marks Launch of Partnership with American Legion, Plans to Scale Efforts from 100 to Several Hundred Fairs in 2012

MINNEAPOLIS, MN—Ahead of Saturday’s “Hiring Our Heroes Minneapolis” job fair, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce announced today that it is expanding its veterans employment program with the help of a partnership with the American Legion. This weekend’s hiring fair is the 19th in the program’s 100-city initiative, and is being held in conjunction with the American Legion’s 2011 National Convention.

“With a partner like the American Legion, there is tremendous potential to scale our efforts in 2012 from 100 to several hundred hiring fairs in local communities where veterans and their families are returning every day,” said Kevin Schmiegel, the U.S. Chamber’s vice president of Veterans Employment Programs. “Imagine what our extensive network of local chambers can accomplish by marrying up with hundreds of American Legion posts in suburban and rural cities nationwide. This is an opportunity for the biggest veteran service organization and largest business federation in the world to create a movement that will have a profound impact on veterans unemployment.”

More than 60 employers are expected to participate in “Hiring Our Heroes Minneapolis” on Saturday, which is open to veterans, guard and reservists, and military spouses. The jobless rate for veterans in Minnesota is above 20%, which is nearly three times higher than non-veterans in the state.

The event also marks several milestones in the Chamber’s campaign to help veterans and military spouses find meaningful employment. At the conclusion of “Hiring Our Heroes Minnesota,” the U.S. Chamber, working alongside Department of Labor VETS, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, state and local chambers, state workforce agencies, and veteran service organizations will have brought together over 20,000 veterans and military spouses with more than 1,000 different employers in 15 states.

Local communities have also taken ownership and responsibility to address the issue of veteran unemployment. In the past month, nine local chambers have announced their own “Hiring Our Heroes” effort in addition to the first 100 hiring fairs the Chamber has planned through March 2012 as part of the administration’s “Joining Forces” initiative.

NBC continues to be a strong partner for “Hiring our Heroes.” In addition to covering all 100 of the hiring fairs through their local affiliates, NBC News is dedicating an entire year’s worth of programming to a new series, “Making a Difference on the Homefront.” The series, an extension of “Nightly News with Brian Williams’” award-winning franchise, is an effort to shine a light on veterans, military families, and the issues affecting them across the country.

For more information regarding the U.S. Chamber’s Hiring our Heroes initiative and Saturday’s hiring fair, please visit: http://www.uschamber.com/veterans.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

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