The state has been able to reduce unemployment for returning service members from 20 percent to 17 percent, but state legislators and business leaders say thats not good enough.
Standing between a UH-70 Black Hawk and UH-72 Lakota as part of Florida National Guard Day in the courtyard of the Capitol, Gov. Rick Scott helped announce a commitment to returning service members that is beyond the numerous thanks and resolutions combat veterans often receive when returning home.
We want to make sure our National Guard and other military veterans are given strong consideration when it comes to these jobs, Scott said.
The announcement came a couple of hours after the state Senate approved a bill that would give a $10,000 tax credit to companies that hire Florida National Guardsmen.
Under the Hiring Floridas Heroes program, the state is seeking employers interested in hiring veterans to set up pools from which veterans can inquire for positions. Workforce Florida has already started to offer its one-stop centers at armories around the state to match guard members and their families with employers.
For veterans and employers, the state has set up a toll free number, (866) 352-2345, and a portal for veterans on the website -- veterans.employflorida.com. Mark Wilson, president and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, said veterans should be viewed as good hires.
Floridas returning soldiers, sailors and airmen possess strong leadership skills, they work with integrity, theyre proficient with technology and many have global experience, which is increasingly important as we expand manufacturing and international trade, Wilson said. The bottom line: Theyre solid private-sector candidates for job creation.
The governors office noted that in the past year, the states work force system -- Workforce Florida Inc., the Department of Economic Opportunity, the states 24 Regional Workforce Boards and nearly 100 One-Stop Career Centers -- has assisted 12,776 veterans in job searches, including 1,237 so far this year.
When Senate President-designate Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, was charged last year with overseeing veteran employment by Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, the unemployment numbers for former service members doubled the state average.
Gaetz noted that the numbers stood at 40 percent for members of the National Guard who served in combat zones.
The unit that most recently returned from combat zone a couple of months ago, that was in Lake County, 70 percent were unemployed, Gaetz said.
On Tuesday, the Senate unanimously approved SB 922, which includes veterans as a preference group when the state is contracting a service, offers a $10,000 tax credit for companies that hire Florida National Guardsmen, develops specialty American Legion, and Vietnam Veteran and Combat Infantry Badge license plates, and would allow military students to remain at schools when county school districts redraw boundary lines.
A proposal was removed from an earlier version of the bill that would have given qualified veterans priority registration when applying to any institution in the Florida College System. State university leaders have expressed concerns about allowing preferential treatment for any applicants.
Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, who sponsored the bill, said the admission proposal may return as a separate bill.
The House version of the bill, HB 977, has yet to be voted on.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.
