Watch Transitioning from Military Service to Civilian Life on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour.
Initiatives for Veterans
Resources for Employers and Veterans
Why Hire a Veteran
Community Events and Announcements
News
Denver Metro Chamber Initiatives for Veterans
CU Denver Boots to Suits - Thousands of servicemen and women from all branches of the military are now coming home, returning to school and to the workplace, eager to start new lives and become leaders in our community. With the newly-created program, CU Denver Boots to Suits, we are teaming up with the University of Colorado at Denver to assist highly-trained and well-educated veterans as they move from the classroom to a career. Watch a video about Boots to Suits.
The Denver Metro Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has served thousands of veteran entrepreneurs and small business owners. Services for veterans include free one-on-one counseling, business training, and conferences specially designed for the needs of veteran small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Colorado's SBDC Network offers a wealth of information and resources for veterans at www.VetBizAssist.org.
Resources
The Adolph Coors Foundation announced they are seeking proposals to establish a “one-stop-shop” pilot program in Colorado that will provide young returning veterans with access to meaningful employment, education and entrepreneurism opportunities to help them successfully transition back to civilian life. View the RFP here. The deadline to apply is February 15.
The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment created a website, www.hireacoloradovet.gov, where veterans can post résumés, job-search and learn about new job postings before the general public. Additionally, employers are able to post job openings or search for qualified veteran applicants on this website.
Hiring our Heroes - In March 2011, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the National Chamber Foundation, launched its Hiring Our Heroes program, a nationwide effort to help veterans and military spouses find meaningful employment. The Chamber started the program to improve public-private sector coordination in local communities, where veterans and their families are returning every day.
Boots to Business - The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has joined with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) to launch a training program for transitioning service members and veterans to help them become entrepreneurs and create jobs. Operation Boots to Business: From Service to Startup is a national initiative that will be piloted with the U.S. Marine Corps.
Veterans Retraining Assistance Program offers unemployed veterans age 35-60 who no longer qualify for other benefits a chance to retrain for the workforce at community colleges and technical schools. The program, which offers about $1,500 per month for up to 12 months, not only offsets tuition but also can be used for living expenses.
TroopSwap.com is the first ecommerce platform that exclusively serves service members, veterans, and their families. TroopSwap is a channel for pro-military businesses, to provide online military discounts to a very deserving community. And, TroopSwap is the only company able to validate military identity online so that only the military community is able to take advantage of deals and discounts they deserve. Read more
ESGR - The Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve works to develop and promote a culture in which all American employers support and value the military service of their employees with ESGR as the principal advocate within the Department of Defense. Watch a 9News interview with Rear Admiral Dick Young, who leads the program in Colorado.
Why Hire a Veteran
Tax credits for businesses - Last August, President Obama called on Congress to enact tax credits that will help get veterans back to work. The Returning Heroes Tax Credit provides businesses that hire unemployed veterans with a maximum credit of $5,600 per veteran, and the Wounded Warriors Tax Credit offers businesses that hire veterans with service-connected disabilities with a maximum credit of $9,600 per veteran.
Colorado State University Experts Weigh In for Veterans Day: Why You Should Hire a Veteran:
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Leadership. Veterans have had the opportunity to be responsible for projects, people or equipment and lead others, including giving detailed and thoughtful instructions, motivating others, solving problems to keep a team on task, following through with plans and accepting responsibility.
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Ability to work with others. Veterans have experience in working with people from all backgrounds and demographics, as well as working well as a team member. Since military members depend upon each other for safety, veterans are reliable employees committed to the success of the whole.
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Flexibility and performance under pressure. Veterans have experience in adapting to new situations and solving problems to complete tasks under difficult circumstances. Service members are accustomed to switching jobs often.
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Adapt at planning and organization. Military operations require extensive planning and organization. Military personnel are taught to consider objectives, strengths, limitations, resources, time constraints, supplies and other factors when accomplishing tasks, and are able to adjust plans during execution to achieve the desired goal.
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Strong work ethic. Service members are required to finish their projects and assignments regardless of distractions and other pressures. The military instills perseverance, loyalty and determination as work ethics.
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Global perspective. Veterans have often lived in other countries and have a broader understanding of and outlook on the customs, economics, languages and cultures of other countries.
Community Events and Announcements
The Adolph Coors Foundation announced they are seeking proposals to establish a “one-stop-shop” pilot program in Colorado that will provide young returning veterans with access to meaningful employment, education and entrepreneurism opportunities to help them successfully transition back to civilian life. View the RFP here. The deadline to apply is February 15.
News
Little-known VRAP program offers vets a chance to retool for workforce - The Denver Post
Manufacturers launch program to train veterans for high-tech jobs - The Denver Post
Thousands of veterans failing in latest battlefield: college - MSNBC
Colorado veterans, businesses gain insight on working together - The Denver Post
4 resources for veterans entering the civilian workforce - MSN.com
Corporate America's Military Opportunity - Wall Street Journal
CU Denver launches "Boots to Suits" for vets returning to job market - The Denver Post
Execs help vets march from ‘Boots to Suits’ in CU Denver program - Denver Business Journal
