County Executive Ehlmann Proposes Bill to Encourage Employment-Friendly Environment for Veterans

June 6, 2014
Press Contact: Colene McEntee, Public Affairs Coordinator, 636.949.1864, cmcentee@sccmo.org

St. Charles County, Missouri - In an effort to foster an employment-friendly environment for veterans and to encourage businesses across the area to do the same, St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann has requested a bill to establish a Veterans Best Practices Working Group as well a position of Veteran Coordination and Recruitment in St. Charles County Government. In addition, the bill establishes an award of appreciation to recognize employers in the community who are working to develop their businesses as veteran-friendly places of employment. The bill is sponsored by Council Members Mike Elam, District 3, and Dave Hammond, District 4, who are both veterans. The bill will be introduced at the County Council meeting on June 9.

“Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our country. We need to do all that we can to welcome them back into the civilian labor force with open arms,” said Ehlmann.

The bill cites that the unemployment rate in 2013 for veterans who live in Missouri is at 6.1%, which reflects more than 13,000 Missourians who have served in the Armed Forces. Between 700-800 of these veterans are seeking work in the St. Charles County community.

The bill proposes that the Veterans Best Practices Working Group be comprised of St. Charles County employees, appointed by Ehlmann, who are veterans of the United States Armed Services and directors or representatives of various departments. The group would be charged with developing best practices around several goals, which include establishing a link with key community veteran support groups, a relationship with Scott Air Force Base and Fort Leonard Wood, and a presence at military job and recruiting fairs. In addition, the group would create a program involving current employees who are veterans to mentor new veteran employees and act as an advisory group to ensure that benefits and resources are made known to county employees.

In addition, the bill proposes that the position of Veteran Coordination and Recruitment be in the 2015 budget, subject to approval by the County Council.

The bill will be up for final passage at the June 30 County Council meeting.

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