Patrick-Murray Administration To Increase Veterans' Services and Employment

Governor Deval Patrick declared November 2011 as “Hire a Veteran Month.” In addition to declaring November 2011 as "Hire a Veteran Month," Governor Patrick also announced new initiatives and resources to support the hiring of Massachusetts veterans, while increasing access to health care, transportation, education and housing services. 

“Massachusetts is proud to support our veterans, and these new initiatives will increase access to jobs and critical services,” said Governor Patrick in his press release. “By partnering with the business community, we can encourage and increase the hiring of more Massachusetts veterans, including those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Governor Patrick also launched an Interagency Task Force on Hiring Veterans and directed all Executive Branch agencies to promote the benefits of hiring veterans. The announcement builds on existing partnerships and business collaborations initiated by Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray, who chairs the Governor's Advisory Council on Veterans' Services.

“As Massachusetts continues to lead the nation in providing services to our veterans, we’re still thinking of new ways to further support returning veterans and veterans of all eras,” said Lieutenant Governor Murray. “Hiring veterans is not only the right thing to do, it’s good for business because veterans are reliable, diligent, and always ready to get the job done.”

Partnering with major trade associations to encourage the hiring of veterans and circulate information on veterans benefits is apart of the new initiatives. The Massachusetts Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (MACCE), the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, the Massachusetts Business Roundtable, the Associated Industries of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, the Mass High Tech Council, the Defense Technology Initiative, and the Retailers Association of Massachusetts are among the growing list of major trade associations committed to working with the Administration and the Massachusetts veteran community. 

Massachusetts businesses will be offered an option to post an official state logo designating the company as a “Proud Employer of Massachusetts Veterans,” if the company employs a certain percentage of their workforce with Massachusetts veterans.

Governor Patrick's announcement also included a $325,000, two year, annual grant to DVS that will provide community based outreach treatment to veterans in the Metro Boston area.

Click here learn more about the Governor’s Advisory Council on Veterans’ Services. Click here to learn more about the Massachusetts Department of Veterans’ Services.  

To learn more about Mansfield's veterans services, click here.