Jobs Now for Maine Vets is a collaborative workforce training initiative of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and the Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership (Maine MEP). Our goal is to train unemployed Maine veterans for careers in the state’s 21st century manufacturing economy. We call upon Maine’s business community to join us in supporting this initiative. LEARN MORE
Learn more about how the M.O.S.T.® veteran initiative can solve your workforce training needs. MORE
Learn more about supporting workforce training for Maine's unemployed veterans. MORE
Actor John Ratzenberger Touts M.O.S.T.® Program as Solution for Putting Veterans Back to Work January 9, 2012, CNN In an interview with CNN host Soledad O’Brien, actor John Ratzenberger recommends the M.O.S.T.® program as a solution for putting unemployed veterans back to work. At a time when the manufacturing sector is reporting good news, adding 23,000 jobs in the month of December, the M.O.S.T.® program focuses on training workers for available jobs and careers in manufacturing. MORE
Smith & Wesson Celebrates Veterans Day with M.O.S.T.Training Class Graduation November 11, 2011 Legendary manufacturer Smith & Wesson handed eight veterans offers of employment along with their graduation certificates from the M.O.S.T. training program. The graduation ceremony highlighted the company's Veterans Day celebration and marked the third M.O.S.T. training held at the company. Smith & Wesson President and CEO James Debney expressed support for the program and promised the company would begin a fourth M.O.S.T. training soon.
Why Maine's Manufacturing Economy Matters November 8, 2011 Maine can't let its manufacturing base disappear. The latest global trend in LED lighting demonstrates that innovation evolves from manufacturing clusters. The state's investments in R&D will matter little if Maine loses its manufacturing expertise, a point actor John Ratzenberger made at the Maine State Chamber of Commerce's annual dinner.
Maine veterans are facing a crisis that has gone largely unnoticed. Thousands of men and women who have proudly served our country have returned home only to find it difficult, if not impossible, to find work. Among veterans of current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the unemployment rate exceeds 20 percent. As a nation, we should be ashamed.
Veterans who have performed the most dangerous duties in Kandahar, Fallujah and Baghdad return stateside only to find their military skills don’t translate into civilian employment. This failure to bridge the “skills gap” is one of the most frustrating obstacles confronting them. But a solution to this problem exists. JOIN us in supporting a new private sector workforce initiative that trains veterans for jobs in Maine’s manufacturing economy. LEARN MOREWATCH THE VIDEO
