Workforce Development to hold veterans employment workshops
BUSINESS RECORD STAFF Nov 8, 2016 | 8:50 pm
1 min read time
291 wordsAll Latest News, Economic DevelopmentIn recognition of Veterans Day, Iowa Workforce Development will hold events throughout the state this week to recognize veterans and to help them find employment.
“Veterans have demonstrated the dedication and commitment that are essential to be a successful employee,” said Iowa Workforce Development Director Beth Townsend, who retired as a lieutenant colonel from the Air Force Reserve in 2010. “Iowa Workforce Development is committed to helping veterans make a successful transition to civilian life by helping them find gainful employment.”
According to WalletHub’s 2016’s Best & Worst States for Military Retirees, Iowa ranked first in the nation in the categories of Most Veteran Job Opportunities and Most Affordable Housing. Additionally, Iowa ranked third in the category of Lowest Percentage of Homeless Veterans. In 2014, Iowa passed legislation known as the Home Base Iowa Act, which provides the following incentives for veterans:
- Military Pension Income Tax Exemption — fully exempts military pensions from state income tax.
- Permissive Veterans Hiring Preference — allows veterans preferential treatment in hiring decisions for both public and private organizations.
- Military Homeownership Assistance Program — provides veterans up to $7,500 toward down payment or closing costs of a home by using the Iowa Finance Authority program.
- Higher Education Incentives — provides automatic, in-state tuition to veterans, their spouse and their dependents.
“Through Home Base Iowa and the services we offer at our IowaWORKS offices, we want to be the ‘State of Choice’ for veterans and transitioning service members for employment and educational opportunities,” Townsend said.
At a Nov. 10 event scheduled in Des Moines, IWD will present information about veteran opportunities as well as apprenticeship programs and information about how individuals exiting correctional facilities can find jobs. For more information and a list of other events, click here.
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