FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, November 15, 2018

CITY ANNOUNCES CAREER CENTERS SERVED A MILESTONE OF OVER 15,000 VETERANS AND THEIR SPOUSES SINCE THE START OF MAYOR DE BLASIO'S ADMINISTRATION

City's Network of Workforce1 Career Centers Provides Priority of Service to Jobseekers with Military Backgrounds

New York – NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Gregg Bishop today announced a milestone of over 15,000 veterans and their spouses served by SBS' citywide network of Workforce1 Career Centers since the start of Mayor de Blasio's Administration. Through a service called Priority1, jobseeking veterans and their spouses are provided with priority services throughout the Workforce1 Career Center system. Select centers are equipped with dedicated Veteran Specialists, many of whom have military backgrounds, to help jobseekers navigate the transition to civilian employment.

Priority1 is made possible with support from Robin Hood. Robin Hood has provided $2.1 million in funding to help connect veterans to employment by recognizing and leveraging the unique skills veterans bring with them from their military experience.

"Military service requires a sacrifice unimaginable to many of us and the City is committed to honoring that sacrifice," said Gregg Bishop, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services. "Through services like Priority1, we are working to ensure that veterans and their families can seamlessly transition to civilian life here in New York City."

"We believe that Priority1 has had an enormous impact on NYC's service members and their spouses, while providing local New York City employers with the highest levels of talented staff," said Suzi Epstein, Managing Director at Robin Hood. "These leaders and managers are some of our country's best problem solvers, and NYC's economy needs them in order to stay dynamic and innovative."

"Commissioner Bishop and his team at SBS have been dedicated partners in advocating for New York City veterans," said Council Member Chaim Deutsch, Chairman of the NYC Council's Veterans Committee. "We've collaborated on many different fronts to open doors for veterans seeking careers. Former military service members have a unique set of skills, and Commissioner Bishop recognizes and appreciates that. It is reflective of his personal commitment to veterans that they have had such success engaging with the veteran population of our City."

Priority1 Veteran Specialists are located at seven Workforce1 Career Centers citywide and provide the following services:

• Connection to employers committed to hiring veterans;
• Information about training, benefits, and support services;
• Translation of military experience into skills for civilian jobs; and
• Connection to additional organizations for resources beyond employment.

Veterans who walk into any Workforce1 Career Center will receive priority of service.

Learn more by watching the video below: