Community Corner

Leone and Hwang Get Jobs For Veterans

State Sen. Carlo Leone and State Rep. Tony Hwang help veterans seek employment through the Veterans Workforce Investment Program, serving at least 200 veterans per year.

State Sen. Carlo Leone (D-27) runs the Veteran's Workforce Investment Program, a state program designed to assist unemployed veterans in finding steady work, which is also supported by State Rep. Tony Hwang (R-134).

VWIP operates withtin a $500,000 budget, supplied by the US Department of Labor. VWIP is under the umbrela of Workplace Inc., a state initiative that offers employment programs for all state residents, to include a Mortgage Crisis program and a Dress for Success program.

"You've got to recognize that these men are heroes in a selective service," Hwang said. Hwang suggested that Leone, who manages most aspects of the program and served in the US Air Force himself, understands the transition from military life to civilian life better than anyone. Leone and Hwang agree on the source of veteran joblessness.

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"When soldiers leave the military now, there are many other soldiers that leave with them," Leone said. "We have veterans that served in Vietnam, Korea...as long as a veteran has anything except a dishonorable discharge, we can work with them."

VWIP's strategy is unique among other veteran-employment programs, such as those sponsored by Veteran's Affairs. Leone stated that the program tries to train veterans for the "green sector". "They train for entry level positions in growing industries," Leone said.

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"In this community, you have to have a job with an upward trajectory," Hwang said.

Gulick Building and Development, a construction company that is building their own occupational training center in addition to participating in VWIP, has hired veterans from VWIP.

"Job skills training is something that is a constant thing," Hwang said. Out of an estimated 200 veterans that enter the program each year, Leone stated that VWIP has a 65% success rate in employing vets.

"If all goes well, a veteran is usually able to find work within two months of training," Leone said. "We're in almost every area in the state. Our goal is to serve every veteran that requires assistance."


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