OIL CITY, Pa. (EYT) – Finding work for area veterans remains a concern for local development and employment organizations.

As the economy recovers and employment opportunities increase, regional organizations are able to meet the workforce needs of our companies and provide employment assistance to veterans. There are job fairs, online employment services, veteran programs, and local veteran employment specialists that can assist area companies and resident veterans in securing employment. The key is getting the word out that help is available.

Oil City-based economic developer, the Northwest Commission, has started a veteran initiative that highlights an employer job posting website, RecruitMilitary, to assist and promote the hiring of area veterans.

“It is critical to join with our partners in workforce development, education, and government to create a system that is capable of meeting the employment needs of companies in the 21^st century,” said Northwest Commission’s Executive Director, Jill Foys.

In an effort to craft workforce solutions that address the needs of modern employers, the Northwest Commission has contracted with RecruitMilitary to make the online military-to-civilian recruitment tool free for businesses in the eight-county region of Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, and Warren.  When registered through the Northwest Commission, employers in the region can add unlimited job postings to the RecruitMilitary Job Board at no charge.

“This is a great opportunity for our region’s employers to connect to veterans who possess the skills most sought after by employers,” Foys said.

“Many of our companies have expressed interest in contracting with similar employment sites but the cost was prohibitive.  The Northwest Commission’s board of directors endorsed our role as the contracting partner that allows all businesses in our eight counties to post jobs to RecruitMilitary’s Job Board free of charge.”

Businesses can take advantage of this opportunity by emailing NWC@northwestpa.org to request a registration form or learn more by visiting www.northwestpa.org/veterans-initiative/.

Despite the outpouring of public support, veterans face a real challenge when it comes to returning to civilian life and securing a job. To help combat this, Northwest PA CareerLink regional offices, have various employment programs offered to veterans free of charge. Area veterans are offered ‘priority of service’ at the CareerLink and will be provided assistance in training, placement and securing employment.

Veterans and qualified spouses may be eligible to receive intensive veteran services under the Jobs for Veterans State Grant. This grants offers vocational assessments, formal action planning, service referrals, and regular progress follow-up services.

“The region’s PA CareerLinks are equally committed to helping employers connect with veteran jobseekers.  In addition to staff dedicated full-time to serving veterans and their spouses seeking jobs in the region, veterans enjoy priority of service for all federally and state funded services offered at PA CareerLinks,” said Brian Nottingham, Project Specialist at Partners For Performance.

“As part of the region’s strategic planning for 2016 and beyond, Workforce Development Board staff are aggressively pursuing additional funding earmarked to provide more—and better—options for veterans searching for work in our six county region.  Finally, PA CareerLink staff will be partnering with local veterans housing agencies to deliver career services to veterans in their housing communities beginning in January of 2016.”

Northwest PA CareerLink centers are located in Oil City, Clarion, Meadville, Warren, Forest, and Erie counties. For more information on veteran services visit https://www.nwpacareerlink.org.