2018 Maine Hire-A-Vet Campaign Kick-Off Event and Hiring Fair to be held August 30 at Augusta Civic Center

June 19, 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 19, 2018

Campaign Contact: Steven Roy, Campaign Coordinator, MaineHireAVet.DOL@maine.gov

Hiring Fair Contact: Josh Brown, Hiring Fair Coordinator, Joshua.S.Brown@Maine.gov

Media Contact: Laura Hudson, Maine Department of Labor, 207-621-5009

The campaign?s goal is for 100+ employers to hire 100+ veterans during 100 days.

AUGUSTA?Maine's annual Hire-A-Vet campaign is a statewide effort to commit at least 100 employers to hire at least 100 veterans and military family members during a 100-day period. A kick-off event and hiring fair is being held from 12:30 to 4 p.m. on August 30 at the Augusta Civic Center, 76 Civic Center Drive. Opening remarks will be followed by a hiring fair with more than 120 expected employers that are looking to recruit veterans, military family members, and civilians. The event is open to the public. The 2018 campaign officially begins on Labor Day.

?Through the Hire-A-Vet campaign, more employers are discovering the value veterans bring to their workforce,? said Governor Paul R. LePage. ?Ann and I fully support this successful initiative, and look forward to helping make this year?s effort reach more employers and get more veterans good paying careers in our state. Whether you are a veteran or an employer, we urge you to connect with this campaign to help us meet Maine?s workforce needs. Veterans? skills include teamwork, leadership, technology, and tremendous discipline that can benefit all of our businesses.?

The Maine Hire-A-Vet campaign provides support for employers to expand the hiring of veterans, to include a network of state and federal agencies, resources and nonprofits, education on military language and culture, recruiting and hiring assistance, and recognition for the hiring and advancement of veterans and military family members. Employers that pledge to join the campaign are not required to hire veterans they interview in order to participate.

Employers can join the 2018 Maine Hire-A-Vet Campaign by contacting Steven Roy, Campaign Coordinator, at MaineHireAVet.DOL@maine.gov or 207-624-5156 (TTY: Relay 711).

Employers and veteran service agencies can register at no-cost for the hiring event by contacting Josh Brown, Hiring Fair Coordinator, at Joshua.S.Brown@Maine.gov or 207-624-5172 (TTY: Relay 711).

At the end of the 2017 Maine Hire-A-Vet Campaign, 154 employers had participated and 296 veterans and military family members were hired. The average placement wage was $23.16 per hour.

The campaign has connected more than 300 employers with over 700 veteran-hires since its inception in 2015, and has been recognized as a best practice by the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) and the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA).

The Maine Hire-A-Vet Campaign is co-sponsored by Maine Department of Labor and its CareerCenters, Boots2Roots, Easter Seals and their Veterans Count program, Employment Support Program, Live + Work in Maine, Maine Bureau of Veterans Services, Transition Assistance Advisors, VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, Veterans, Inc., and Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment. Learn more at http://www.mainecareercenter.gov/hireavet.shtml , and follow the campaign on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/mainehireavet .

Veterans, military family members and civilians seeking assistance in job search and training are encouraged to contact their closest Maine CareerCenter, which can be found online at http://www.mainecareercenter.gov/locations . Veterans Representatives and Career Counselors are available at each location.

Maine Department of Labor and Maine CareerCenters are equal opportunity providers. Auxiliary aids and services are available to individuals with disabilities upon request.

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