More than 50 veterans recently connected with employers, benefits and community resources during Lorain County’s first National Hire A Vet Day hiring event, an initiative organizers say will continue well beyond a single day.
Hosted July 25 by the Lorain County Veterans Service Commission at Amherst VFW Post 1662, the event brought together employers, veteran service organizations and workforce partners in what organizers called the first National Hire A Vet Day hiring event held in Northeast Ohio.
Kat Johnson, outreach coordinator for the Lorain County Veterans Service Commission, said the event exceeded expectations.
“It was awesome,” Johnson said. “We had 17 employers and six veteran resources there. We had over 50 veterans in attendance, and right now we’re projected to have hired six veterans.”
Johnson said employers represented a wide range of industries, including law enforcement, corrections, construction, healthcare, administrative positions and nonprofit organizations. Second Harvest Food Bank also participated, offering both employment opportunities and food assistance for veterans.
Beyond job opportunities, Johnson said every veteran who attended was connected with available benefits and resources through the Veterans Service Commission.
“A number of veterans got connected for the first time with their service benefits,” she said. “It really was beneficial across the board.”
Johnson said the hiring fair was the culmination of several programs the commission has been developing throughout the year, including LinkedIn workshops, career preparation, an expungement clinic to help remove barriers to employment and housing, and partnerships with organizations such as Valor Home, which assists veterans experiencing housing insecurity.
“We’ve really made it a whole program,” Johnson said. “It won’t just be a one-day-a-year event. It will be a year-long venture.”
She said the commission also plans to continue supporting veteran-owned businesses by helping certify them and connecting employers with resources to become more veteran-friendly.
About half of the businesses that participated in the hiring event were veteran-owned, Johnson said.
The initiative aligns with the Veterans Service Commission’s broader mission.
“When we see a veteran come through our doors, we’re trying to treat the entire veteran,” Johnson said. “Maybe they’re recently discharged and need help translating what they did in the military into civilian work. Or maybe they need to change careers because of a service-connected disability. We want to help them get back on their feet.”
Johnson said employers continue to recognize the value veterans bring to the workforce.
“They are some of the most highly equipped leaders and organized people you can add to your team,” she said. “Hiring a veteran isn’t a charity hire. It’s really elevating the culture of your workplace.”
Although the hiring fair has concluded, Johnson said its impact will continue. Job postings from participating employers will remain available, and the Veterans Service Commission plans to continue offering workforce programming and connecting veterans with employment opportunities throughout the year.
“We’re going to keep building on this,” she said. “This is just the beginning.”