More than 250 Veterans Hired through Maine Hire-A-Vet Campaign

February 1, 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 1, 2016 Media Contacts: Julie Rabinowitz, Maine Department of Labor, 207-621-5009 Joseph Sousa, ESGR, 207-430-5891 Travis Hill, Hero2Hired, 207-779-6921

AUGUSTA?The Maine Hire-A-Vet Campaign began Labor Day 2015 with a goal of committing 100 employers to hire 100 veterans over 100 days. Mission: Exceeded.

Ending on December 18, 2015, with final numbers collected in January due to the length of hiring processes, 135 employers participated in the campaign and reported 259 veterans hired. The average placement wage of these veterans is $17.89 per hour.

?The Maine Hire-A Vet Campaign brought the issue of veterans unemployment forward, and for that we thank all parties involved? said Governor Paul R. LePage. ?While the campaign is complete, veterans and employers should know that resources are available year-round through Maine CareerCenters and project partners to ensure that our veterans can come home to a good paying job in Maine.

"Ann and I fully support the Maine Hire-A-Vet campaign. We want our veterans who have given so much to our nation to return home to good-paying careers that take advantage of the skills developed by service in the Armed Forces.?

The campaign provided 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; assistance with recruiting, hiring, assimilation and retention; a Veteran Hiring Toolkit and recognition for the hiring and advancement of veterans.

More than 80 Maine Hire-A-Vet employers took part in Military Culture 101 training in Augusta and Freeport. The attendees received education on the veterans' perspective on discipline, loyalty, following orders and giving direction, problem solving and more. They also learned how a veteran's experience can transition to the workplace.

Veterans? employment representatives are available throughout the state and can visit employers to assist them in finding qualified veterans and provide information on the benefits of hiring veterans. Employers or veterans can contact the MDOL Veterans? Program Manager, Auta Main, at (207) 623-7975 or auta.m.main@maine.gov for more information. Employers and veterans can also contact their local CareerCenter; a list of CareerCenters is available at http://www.mainecareercenter.com .

The campaign focused on jobs paying at least a wage of $12 per hour, but all employers with jobs at all pay levels were welcome. Participating employers were not required to hire veterans they interview in order to participate in the campaign.

The Maine Department of Labor and its CareerCenters, Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve, Hero2Hired, Veterans Inc., VA Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment, VA Veterans Homeless Program, VA Office of Rural Health, and the Maine Bureau of Veterans Services co-sponsored the campaign. All partners focused on recruiting both veterans and employers.

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

List of Maine Hire-A-Vet Employers

• Abatement Professionals Corp
• Abbott Hill Tree Service
• A-Best Window
• Advanced Fire Protection Services
• AFC - Augusta Fuel Company
• AlliedBarton Security Services
• AngelZ Behavioral Health Services
• Anthem BCBS Maine
• Aroostook Technologies Inc
• Assistance Plus
• Atlantic Taxation
• Bangor Savings Bank
• Bank of America
• Barclaycard US-Wilton Site
• Bath Iron Works
• Beachmere Inn
• B-K Auto
• Blane Casey Building Contractor, Inc.
• BlueTarp Financial
• Bonney Staffing Center, Inc
• Brown Meyers, Inc
• Casella/Pine Tree Waste
• CCB, Inc
• Cianbro
• Cintas Corporation
• City of Auburn
• City of Portland
• CleanTech Building Services Inc.
• Coutts Brothers
• D&G Machine Products Inc
• Dean & Allyn, Inc.
• Delta Ambulance
• Douglas Dynamics/Fisher Engineering
• Dream Local Digital
• East Branch Delivery Service
• EMHS- Inland Hospital
• Evergreen Home Performance
• Friendship Trap
• Friendship Trap Columbia Falls
• Geiger
• General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems
• Goodwill Industries NNE
• Hancock Gourmet Lobster Co
• Hollywood Casing Hotel& Raceway Bangor
• Home Snuggers, Inc.
• IDEXX Laboratories
• IDN Hardware, Inc
• Industrial Roofing Companies
• Interstate Fire Protection
• Irving Forest Products, Inc.,
• Irving Woodlands, LLC,
• Island Sign Works Co.
• K&L Demo Transport
• Kennbec County Sheriff's Office/Correctional Facility
• Kornerstone Home Care / Employment
• Lee Auto Malls
• Lie-Nielsen
• Living Innovations
• LLP Company
• Lowes Bangor #1940
• Maine Dept. of Corrections
• Maine General Hospital
• Maine Insurance Agents Association
• Maine Masonry
• Maine Roofing, Inc.
• Maine Staffing Group
• Manpower
• Match Motors
• Mid-Coast Energy Systems
• Midwest Run INC.
• Moody's Collision Centers, Inc
• Netco Inc.
• New Leaf Construction
• Newport Industrial Fabrication, Inc.
• North Atlantic Painting Company
• Northeast Security Systems
• NorthStar Protection LLC
• Oakhurst Dairy
• On the Road Inc.
• OTT Communications
• Overhead Door Company
• Oxford Casino
• P&G Tambrands
• Parker Hannifin Corporation/Nichols Portland Division
• Penair
• Penobscot Bay Media
• PeoplesChoice Credit Union
• Pepsi Beverages Co
• Piccadilly Marine, Inc.
• Pine State Trading
• POC Collision INC
• Pre-cast Concrete Products of Maine, Inc.
• R. J. Grondin and Sons
• R.A.Cummings Inc dba Auburn Concrete
• R.H. Foster
• Richard Carrier Trucking, Inc
• Robbins Lumber, Inc.
• Rock Coast Personnel
• Safe Environmental Solutions
• Seabreeze Property Services LLC
• Securitas USA
• SEI/Aaron's, nc
• Ship-Right Solutions, LLC
• SME Corp.
• Sodexo at the University of New England
• St. Mary's Health System
• St. Croix Tissue
• State of Maine
• Steel Pro, Inc
• Sullivan Tire & Auto Service
• TB EQUIPMENT & RENTAL, INC
• Ted Berry Company
• Thayer Corporation
• The Penobscot Company
• Time Warner Cable
• T-Mobile
• Togus VA
• Topsham Police Department
• Town of Poland
• Town of Scarborough
• Tradesmen International, Inc ? MARINE DIVISION
• TradeSource
• True Textiles
• UniFirst Corporation
• United Parcel Service
• Universal Calibrations, LLC
• UNUM
• US Cellular
• Veterans Aide at Home
• Volunteers of America Northern New England
• Washington Hancock Community Agency
• Western Maine Water, Inc
• Windham Millwork, Inc
• Wise Business Forms
• Yarmouth Lumber

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