Peoria, IL (July 2, 2012)—Hiring Our Heroes is a nationwide initiative to help veterans and military spouses find meaningful employment. This is a one-of-a-kind FREE employment fair for Veterans, Guard and Reserve Members and eligible spouses.  The local event will happen at the Peoria Civic Center on July 12 from 10-2.  The Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the US Chamber and others (Hero2Hired, the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve the Illinois Department of Employment Security) for this event. 

The goal of this initiative is to create a movement across America in hundreds of local communities where veterans and military families return every day.  In the first 11 months of the program there were 100 hiring fairs nationwide and efforts are significantly expanding in 2012 with hiring fairs in 400 communities.  To date, this program has helped more than 10,000 veterans find jobs.

Locally we are expecting 50+ businesses to participate in the event and we are hoping you can help spread the word to regional veterans and military spouses.  You can find out more about this event at www.hoh.greatjob.net.  Event attendees are encouraged to sign up for the event ahead of time at https://hoh.greatjob.net/sc/viewEvent.action?id=376927 but walk-ins will be accepted the day of the event with proper identification.

Roberta Parks, President of the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce, is available for media interviews prior to the event.  Please contact Renee Charles at 229-7791 or rcharles@h-p.org to schedule an interview.   

Media contact for the day of event (July 12) is:

Shaun Carter

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Regional Events Associate

scarter@uschamber.com

Mobile: 202 754 1267