JVS Veterans First has been awarded $500,000 in Veterans Employment-Related Assistance Program (VEAP) funds by the State of California’s Employment Development Department (EDD), empowering the program’s mission to provide veterans with employment training and employment-related assistance for the pursuit of careers in high-growth industries.
With a focus on female veterans, this generous grant will allow the program to expand its outreach to women veterans across Los Angeles County through strategic partnerships with the LA County Veterans Collaborative, Women Veterans Group, New Directions for Veterans, Women Veterans Alliance, and The Salvation Army Haven. Program services will include comprehensive career and skills assessment, intensive case management, job readiness activities, individual employment plans, networking activities, job placement assistance and job retention services.
“Today’s job market is very competitive. Realizing that this depth and breadth of support is available provides some measure of relief to the challenges of transitioning from the military to life after service,” said John Gutierrez, U.S. Marine Corps veteran and operations manager for the JVS-operated Veteran’s America’s Job Center of California (AJCC) at the historic Bob Hope Patriotic Hall in downtown Los Angeles. “Our ability to partner with EDD gives veterans the most comprehensive assistance available to remove as many barriers to employment as possible while providing a support system that is lost upon exit from the military.”
JVS Veterans First is able to provide this critical support to returning service members and their families through the generous support of corporations, foundations, individual donors, and long-standing partnerships with training providers, community colleges, and employers. This collective effort enables the program to provide eligible veterans with access to resources, support and training for employment in targeted, high-growth industry sectors like information communication technology, construction and renewable energy, transportation and logistics, healthcare, business and finance, and protective services.
“EDD is proud to support programs that help employ the brave women and men who served in our armed forces,” said EDD Director Patrick W. Henning. “This year’s grants take an additional step to this end. Statistics show that women veterans in particular face significant challenges when seeking post-service employment. JVS SoCal’s commitment to helping women veterans, as well as all veterans, is one reason the team was selected for the award.”
To learn more about JVS Veterans First, please visit www.jvs-socal.org/veteransfirst