BUSINESS LEADERS RECOGNIZED FOR SUPPORT OF VETERANS

JU among 140 Jacksonville’s Jobs for Veterans Partnership companies

From the City of Jacksonville

Representatives from 140 companies came together Tuesday, July 9 to celebrate the continued success of the City of Jacksonville’s Jobs for Veterans partnership during a reception at Jacksonville University’s Davis College of Business.

“With a military and veterans community making up more than a quarter of our city’s population, we have a responsibility to act as well as an opportunity to establish best practices,” said Mayor Alvin Brown. “Jobs for Veterans represents great teamwork and the drive to pool resources both for the benefit of our veterans and the companies that gain more direct access to a pool of well-trained candidates. I commend everyone for these continued efforts.”

Jobs for Veterans is a partnership between the City of Jacksonville’s Military Affairs, Veterans and Disabled Services Department and the Jacksonville Military Veterans Coalition (JMVC). There are two key objectives: connecting veterans with career opportunities and educating employers about the benefits of hiring veterans.

Jacksonville University is an education partner, along with the University of North Florida, Edward Waters College, Florida State College at Jacksonville and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Jacksonville University President Tim Cost and Jacksonville Military Veterans Coalition Chair Mike Fleming joined Mayor Brown in thanking the participating companies.      

President Cost said veterans make up more than 10 percent of the student body at JU. As well, the university has a highly active Student Veterans of America organization, one of the largest Navy ROTC programs in the country and a newly constructed Student Veterans Study Center opening this fall. JU is a 100 percent-match Yellow Ribbon school working with the Veterans Administration to cover the full cost of tuition for nearly all degree programs.

“These men and women have given their best to our country, and at JU we are committed to helping them reach their greatest potential,” said President Cost. “We actively engage with local businesses to place these students, and we applaud these efforts.”

To learn more about Jobs For Vets, visit www.coj.net/JobsForVets

Here is a photo gallery from the Jobs for Vets ceremony: