14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft Corp. announced today the names of the six organizations that will receive the $8 million grants in cash and software, which will help veterans and their spouses get the education, the job training and the placement programs that will develop the skills they need to succeed in finding a job.
Even if, despite the economical crisis, the unemployment rate has stabilized, the situation is a bit different for veterans: last month, the unemployment rate among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans rose to 10.6% (compared to 8.8 for civilians), according to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Over the past six months, there has been a gap forming between unemployment rates of veterans and civilians, so to help built a bridge, Microsoft is awarding $2 million in cash and $6 million in software and information technology skills training courses, to helps veterans and their spouses make a successful transition to the civilian life.
The organizations that are receiving the cash and software grants are: Able-Disabled Advocacy Inc., San Diego – San Diego VetWORKS, Bellevue College, Bellevue, Washington – Project SUCCEED, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont Inc., Charlotte, North Carolina – Elevate America’s veterans initiative, Gulf Coast Workforce Board, Panama City, Florida – Mission: 21st Century, Per Scholas, New York and Miami – Microsoft Veterans Employment Project and Veterans Inc., Worcester, Massachusetts – Veterans Inc. Employment and Training Program.
The grants will be distributed over the next two years and will facilitate several services, like technology skills training, job placement, career counseling, but also services like childcare, transportation and housing.
Besides the six lucky organizations that won the grants, the 100 that applied during the Elevate America veterans initiative will also receive software donations, as a sign of appreciation for their work.
Curt Kolcun, vice president, US Public Sector at Microsoft said that “more and more jobs in every sector of the economy demand technology skills.
“By partnering with organizations that have demonstrated expertise in education and skills training programs, we are proud to help provide resources to veterans and their spouses who need these skills to help them in the transition to civilian work and life.”
During the development of the initiative, Microsoft worked with Veterans Service Organizations, that provided guidance and feedback.
The members of the Elevate America veterans initiative advisory committee are The American Legion, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Paralyzed Veterans of America, United Service Organizations (USO) and Wounded Warrior Project.