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July 16, 2007
Seven weeks ago we celebrated Memorial Day, a holiday most people connect with the start of the summer vacation season. We seem to have forgotten what Memorial Day really stands for. While everyone has opinions about what is right and wrong with our nation, I believe that most will agree on one point—living in the United States has its advantages compared with many other countries. The actions of our veterans, past and present, have allowed us to enjoy the lifestyle and the freedom we are accustomed to. We should never forget their contributions.
I have some ideas and news to share about how we can give something back in return for their service to our country. When you are hiring, consider employing a veteran. Many firms complain about how difficult it is to find reliable employees with a good work ethic. Through their military experience, the veterans are the people with these qualities. They recognize the value of making sound decisions, arriving on time and performing to standards. They also understand of the concept of teamwork, have experience in following rules and recognize levels of authority within an organization. I don’t want to make this sound like they are total “yes sir” types, but military experience instills responsibility and accountability in a person, and that is a desirable business trait. For more info on this topic, visit www.hirevetsfirst.gov.
Our state has a business incentive program that provides millions of dollars to large corporations for relocating or expanding operations in New Jersey—yet there is only token assistance to promote the employment of veterans. The programs presently in place are designed to help veterans with service-connected disabilities. Our Legislature should take a look at expanding assistance to firms that offer employment opportunities to all veterans. One possibility can be a tax credit for hiring a veteran; another can be a fixed-dollar contribution to offset the cost of training the new employee. New Jersey is considered a progressive state. We can—and should—set a positive example by developing a modest business incentive program to assist our veterans in obtaining employment.
If you know a veteran who owns a business or is starting one, please pass along some information about a new initiative at the U.S. Small Business Administration called Patriot Express. This program integrates all of SBA’s programs into supporting business growth within the military community. The key component of the initiative allows SBA to provide an increased guaranty on loans to stimulate lenders to extend credit to eligible small-business owners. This initiative also covers reservists and National Guard members, the current spouses of veterans, reservists and National Guard members, and all surviving spouses of a service member who died during service or of a service-connected disability. Visit www.sba.gov/patriotexpress for all the details.
James Kocsi is the district director of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s New Jersey district office in Newark.
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