Jobs fund puts veterans to work

Local veterans are finding work, the result of a half-million dollar training grant to the Veterans Northeast Outreach Center in Haverhill. Job training and placement help are available to more than 300 local veterans in a variety of fields, including the growing "green" jobs sector, said outreach center Executive Director John Ratka.

The first 55 veterans went through the training program beginning in July and some found jobs already, said Ratka, who runs the veterans services center on Reed Street.

The $500,000 grant is enough to send upward of 330 local veterans for training. In today's job market, with unemployment hovering at 10 percent, the chance to learn skills for a new job is good news to his client base, Ratka said.

"A lot of vets are out of work," Ratka said.

The federal Department of Labor grant carried a stipulation that at least 50 veterans be signed up per quarter to learn a variety of job skills. The program was designed to train those who qualify for the program exclusively to perform "green jobs." But, Ratka said, the technology involved in those jobs is still evolving, and so the requirement was cut back to 25 percent.

Examples of "green" industry include clean energy production, sewage treatment, recycling, and other fields that apply high-tech solutions to current industry practices that are harmful to the environment.

The training offered for other occupations is diverse, Ratka said.

"Let's say you wanted to be an auto mechanic," he said. "We could help you with some certifications. We can help you with the training to get that job, and then we'll try to help you get the job."

The help doesn't end when the training is over, Ratka said. Employee specialists helped the first class of newly trained veterans get hired after their training was completed. Ratka said he believes veterans are ideal candidates for the program, in part because of a strong work ethic.

"A lot of people are looking for people who will come to work. What we're seeing from the (veterans) who are coming back (from service in Iraq and Afghanistan) is an energetic bunch of people who want a job and want to go to work and are willing to do some of these jobs that others may not be."

Ratka said the grant could also be used to help veterans who were already employed but needed training for certifications to stay in their occupations.

"We're able to help (a veteran) recertify as an electrician, (for instance), if their license is almost up," he said.

Ratka said he already views the program as a success.

"We've been doing a pretty good job." he said. Anyone who is interested in the program can call 978-372-3626 or e-mail vneoc@northeastveterans.org.

Article by By Nathan Ritzo, Haverhill Gazette