On Wednesday, Microsoft Corp. announced Bellevue College as one of six recipients of its Elevate America veterans initiative grants, which will help give veterans and their spouses the skills and resources they need to be successful in today’s civilian work force.
According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, last week’s unemployment report showed that although the overall unemployment rate last month remained steady, among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, the unemployment rate rose last month to 10.6 percent (compared with 8.8 percent for nonveterans). Over the past six months, the average unemployment rate among those veterans has been 16 percent higher than the rate for nonveterans (10.7 percent compared with 9.2 percent).
To help bridge this gap, Microsoft is awarding $2 million in cash and up to $6 million in software and information technology skills training curriculum to organizations that provide veterans and their spouses with the support they need to successfully transition to civilian careers.
More than half of today’s jobs require some technology skills, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that figure will reach 77 percent in the next decade.
Besides Bellevue College, the following organizations are receiving the cash and software grants:
• Able-Disabled Advocacy Inc., San Diego; San Diego VetWORKS
• Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont Inc., Charlotte, N.C.; Elevate America’s veterans initiative
• Gulf Coast Workforce Board, Panama City, Fla.; Mission: 21st Century
• Per Scholas, New York and Miami, Fla.; Microsoft Veterans Employment Project
• Veterans Inc., Worcester, Mass.; Veterans Inc. Employment and Training Program
The recipients will receive funding over the next two years to provide veterans with a comprehensive set of services, including technology skills training, job placement, career counseling and other support services such as childcare, transportation and housing. In addition to these organizations, Microsoft announced that it is offering software donations to each of the 100 organizations that applied during the competitive Elevate America veterans initiative grant process, in recognition of the important work they are doing with veterans and their spouses across the country.
“More and more jobs in every sector of the economy demand technology skills,” said Curt Kolcun, vice president, U.S. Public Sector, Microsoft. “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.”
Microsoft collaborated with nationally recognized Veterans Service Organizations to provide guidance and feedback throughout the development of this initiative. The members of this advisory group have been instrumental in helping Microsoft determine the specific needs of veterans and how to effectively reach them. 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.
