1 Essays - Aftermath Of War, Illinois Department Of Veterans Affairs

The House of Representatives of the 96th General Assembly of the State of Illinois has designated the week of August 30, 2010, ?Workforce Development Week.? Our Workforce Investment Board of Western Illinois will be focusing on veterans during Workforce Development Week, August 30 ? September 5, 2010. Accordingly, we want to ensure you know the services available to assist you in your transition from the military to a civilian job. Some of these services include: ? State Government/Employment Preference: Bonus Points are given on Central Management Services entrance examinations to honorably discharged veterans who served on Federal Active Duty as well as those who served in the National Guard or Reserves. Hiring Preference is given to veterans who served on Federal Active Duty and reside in Illinois over non-veterans in the same grade category. ?Patriot Express Loan Initiative: The new Patriot Express loan is offered by the Small Business Association?s network of participating lenders and feature a fast turnaround time for loan approvals. Loans are available up to $500,000 and qualify for SBA?s maximum guaranty of up to 85 percent for loans of $150,000 or less and up to 75 percent for loans over $150,000 up to $500,000. For loans above $350,000, lenders are required to take all available collateral. The Patriot Express loan can be used for most business purposes, including start-up, expansion, equipment purchases, working capital, inventory or business-occupied real-estate purchases. Patriot Express loans feature SBA?s lowest interest rates for business loans, generally 2.25 percent to 4.75 percent over prime depending upon the size and maturity of the loan. Your local SBA district office will have a listing of Patriot Express lenders in your area. http://www.sba.gov/patriotexpress/index.html ?Jobs for Vets: The Department of Employment Security/Illinois Job Service provides a trained "Veterans Representative" to help you get the training and job you need. An electronic statewide job search information system is available at different locations throughout the State of Illinois. ?The Department of Human Services provides services for veterans with mental/physical disabilities that assist them in returning to gainful employment. ?Illinois Operation Employ Veterans: The Operation Employ Veterans program is a joint initiative of the disabilityworks program and the Easter Seals organization. Disabilityworks, a nationally recognized effort geared toward enhancing employment and training opportunities for people with disabilities, is funded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and administered by the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. Operation Employ Veterans was developed to enhance the services available at the local level and help fill the gaps in the veterans' services delivery system statewide. DCEO provided a $500,000 grant for the program. A number of state agencies will be involved with facilitating services through the program including the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Employment Security and Central Management Services, as well as other local organizations. ?The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity have a number of Small Business Administration loan and Job Training Programs. ?Under state law, qualified Illinois Veterans must be afforded an opportunity for interview and employment before Illinois non-Veterans in the same grade category. ?Small Business Administration, Office of Veterans Business Development acts as an Ombudsman for Veterans in Small Business Administration programs and provides business training, counseling and assistance, and oversees the Federal procurement programs for Veteran and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned small businesses. ?The Uniformed Services Employment and Re-Employment Rights Act: A veteran who has recently returned from a tour of duty has special reemployment rights under federal law. The Uniformed Services Employment and Re-Employment Rights Act (USERRA) provides benefits and remedies to returning service members who are seeking re-employment with their former employers. ?Veterans' Grant: The Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) Program pays tuition and certain fees at all Illinois state-supported colleges, universities and community colleges for Illinois residents. ?Illinois Troops to Teachers: Teaching in public schools is a profession highly compatible with the experience veterans receive in the military. The Illinois Troops to Teachers Program can help eligible veterans with at least 6 years of honorable service transition to K-12 public school teaching. The Illinois Troops to Teachers office, under the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs provides: Educational and teaching career advisement, information resources for earning an Illinois teacher's certification, access to mentors, Illinois veterans who have successfully transitioned and preparation for and