FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 20, 2018

 Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Contact: Samantha Quig
Email: s.quig@vachamber.com
Phone: 804-237-1457

Virginia Department of Veterans Services
Contact: Jeb Hockman
Email: Jeb.Hockman@dvs.virginia.gov
Phone: 804-482-8497

VIRGINIA CHAMBER FOUNDATION AND VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS SERVICES ANNOUNCE  “HIRE VETS NOW” INITIATIVE

Events on Military Installations to Connect Transitioning Service Members and Veterans with Virginia Businesses for Professional Development and Career Opportunities

Richmond, VA–The Virginia Chamber Foundation and the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) are launching a new joint initiative called HIRE VETS NOW. HIRE VETS NOW will bring together transitioning military service members, veterans, military spouses and business representatives to share in professional development and career networking.

Beginning in March, these two-hour hiring and networking events will be held on Fort Belvoir, Fort Lee and Naval Station Norfolk, three of the largest military installations in the Commonwealth.

“Virginia is home to thousands of servicemen and women stationed here who will be transitioning from active duty to civilian life, as well as thousands more veterans who are looking to enter the civilian workforce,” said Barry DuVal, president and CEO of the Virginia Chamber. “Our veteran community represents an invaluable resource for employers and we want to make sure we keep these highly-skilled professionals here. They are a vital asset to our state economy.”

“We are excited to partner with The Virginia Chamber Foundation and the Installation Transition Assistance Offices to host these HIRE VETS NOW networking events,” said John L. Newby II, Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services. “The events will provide a relaxed and social atmosphere for military members and veterans to meet one-on-one with many of our Virginia Values Veterans (V3) partner employers and learn about career opportunities available to them.”

The first HIRE VETS NOW hiring and networking event will take place at Fort Belvoir on March 22 from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.  Additional events are scheduled at Naval Station Norfolk, Fort Lee and at Fort Belvoir through November 2018.

These HIRE VETS NOW events are open to all transitioning military members, veterans and their spouses. There will be no charge to attend but pre-registration is requested. For more details, interested service members and veterans can visit https://www.vachamber.com/foundation/hirevets/, www.dvs.virginia.gov/ or email or call Cyndi Miracle at c.miracle@vachamber.com or (804.237.1466).

About The Virginia Chamber Foundation
The mission of the Virginia Chamber Foundation is to strengthen Virginia’s long-term competitiveness through implementation support for Blueprint Virginia 2025. The Foundation conducts research, provides metrics for the state’s progress and produces events on issues facing business.

About the Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Program
The Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Program is a Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Veterans Services Program. Its mission is to help employers understand, design and implement nationally recognized best practices in recruiting, hiring and retaining veteran employees. For more information on the V3 Program, please visit www.dvsv3.com.

About VDVS
The Virginia Department of Veterans Services (VDVS) operates 29 benefit offices throughout the state that assist military veterans and their families in filing claims for federal veterans benefits; two long-term care facilities offering nursing, assisted living, and domiciliary care for veterans; and three cemeteries that provide an honored final resting place for veterans and their families. VDVS provides veterans and family members with direct linkages to services including behavioral healthcare, housing, employment, education and other programs.  The Department also operates the Virginia War Memorial, the Commonwealth’s monument to honor the memory and sacrifice of Virginia’s men and women who served and fought to defend our way of life from World War II to the present. For more information, please visit www.dvs.virginia.gov.