Job bank for veterans to provide assistance

A partnership between Ocean County and the federal Veterans Administration (VA) will help Ocean County's veterans secure employment opportunities.

"The Ocean County Board of Freeholders is very proud of the more than 68,000 veterans that call Ocean County home," said Freeholder Gerry P. Little, who serves as the board's liaison to the Ocean County Veterans Service Bureau. "The men and women that have served in the military and those that continue to serve today make a special difference in our lives."

Little recently joined with representatives of the VA, the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, veterans organizations and the county's Veterans Service Bureau in cutting a ceremonial ribbon marking the grand opening of Ocean County's Veterans Job Bank.

"We want to welcome here today our partners, Bill McLemore, assistant secretary of intergovernmental affairs, Duane Honeycutt, director of the Newark VA Regional Office and Bill Devereaux, program coordinator for the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs," Little said. "When agencies work in cooperation with each other, our residents benefit."

Under the partnership with the VA, the Veterans Administration will actively have staff members on site at the county's Veterans Service Bureau, 1027 Hooper Ave., Toms River, Building 2, to assist veterans in finding a job, said Veterans Service Bureau Director John P. Dorrity.

"Ocean County is leading the way by being the first county to collaborate with the Veterans Administration in establishing a job bank," Little said. "Veterans can come to receive assistance in securing employment and job training. These steps will make a beneficial difference in the lives of many of our veterans and their families."

Ocean County not only has the largest population of veterans but is also, in part, the location of the joint base installation made up of Navy Lakehurst, Fort Dix and McGuire Air Force Base.

"This county has always worked closely with the military in providing support to the bases," said Freeholder Director John P. Kelly. "In addition to our other services, this job bank provides support directly to the veterans by helping them find jobs they can excel in."

For more information or an appointment call (732) 349-6106 or (732) 929-2096.