Labor Commissioner Harold J. Wirths and Brigadier General Michael L. Cunniff, the Adjutant General, kicked off the event held on the campus of Rider University in Lawrenceville, which cosponsored the job fair. For the past two years, LWD has partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in a series of veteran job fairs held throughout the Garden State.

“We’re excited to join with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for another Hiring Our Heroes job fair,” said Commissioner Wirths. “The Christie Administration is dedicated to providing New Jersey veterans with the resources and help they need to transition their military skills to jobs that will help them to reach their career goals and support their families.  Our veterans deserve our full support when they return home, and it is our responsibility to provide that support. This job fair gives us another opportunity to assist them.”

Hundreds of veterans and military spouses came to the job fair looking to secure a job opportunity with the approximately 80 employers ranging from Lowes Home Improvement and Prudential Financial to local banks and government agencies.

"This event is a critical part of a broader strategy to make employers aware that hiring Veterans is more than just the right thing to do," said Brigadier General Michael Cunniff. "Hiring Veterans also makes good business sense. Veterans are dedicated workers who thrive under pressure, understand teamwork and don't quit until the job is done."

LWD and DMAVA have joined with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the American Legion and other sponsors to support several Hiring Our Heroes events from Toms River, Flemington and Somerville to Trenton. In fact, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce declared the Trenton Hiring Our Heroes job fair, held last September at the Sun National Bank Center, the largest Hiring Our Heroes job fair it has held in the nation. More than 700 veterans attended and over 120 employers participated in the event.

In April 2012, LWD organized a number of events under Governor Christie’s Operation: Hire a Jersey Hero initiative, including a symposium held at Prudential’s headquarters in Newark that focused on connecting employers with state and federal resources that can help them hire veterans. LWD also organized a veteran-specific job fair last May on board the USS New Jersey (Battleship NJ) in Camden where 350 veterans and military spouses had an opportunity to meet with 50 employers who had a combined 2,800 available positions to fill.

More recently, LWD and DMAVA participated in job fairs in Essex County in December and Somerset County in February, as well as an effort held in Morris County to help homeless veterans from throughout New Jersey.

Today’s U.S. Chamber of Commerce “Hiring Our Heroes” job fair also was co-sponsored by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), U.S. Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment & Training Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, NBC News, and other local partners.

In addition to Operation: Hire a Jersey Hero initiatives, the Christie Administration provided a $190,000 grant to the New Jersey Building and Construction Trades Council’s Helmets to Hardhats program last summer to help military personnel, National Guard, reserve, and transitioning active-duty military members to connect to quality career and training opportunities in the building and construction trades. This is the second consecutive grant the Administration awarded to the program. In 2011, a $195,000 was awarded to the organization.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Chamber Foundation launched "Hiring Our Heroes" in March 2011 as a sustained grassroots campaign to help veterans and military spouses find meaningful employment in hundreds of communities across America. To date, the effort has resulted in more than 320 hiring fairs being hosted in 49 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia, with more than 10,400 people placed into jobs.

New Jersey Labor and Workforce Development (LWD) Commissioner Harold J. Wirths kicks off the U.S. Chamber of Commerce “Hiring Our Heroes” job fair held on the campus of Rider University in Lawrenceville. More than 80 employers were on hand looking to hire veterans and military spouses. Catherine Starghill (right), LWD Director of Workforce Field Services also attended the event.