Avery Bleichfeld
Gov. Maura Healey was joined by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jon Santiago and other officials for the signing of the historic HERO Act in Lexington on Aug. 8, 2024. This legislation contains more than 30 provisions that will positively impact hundreds of thousands of veterans in Massachusetts. PHOTO: JOSHUA QUALLS/GOVERNOR’S PRESS OFFICE
New state actions, announced Oct. 31, aim to increase veteran’s access to employment in Massachusetts.
In a press conference at the State House, leadership from the state Executive Offices of Veterans Services and Workforce Development announced a new tax credit to encourage businesses to hire veterans and a data dashboard to track employment trends.
Improving support for veterans seeking employment and education opportunities has been a priority since he entered the role last year, said Jon Santiago, secretary of Veterans Affairs.
“When [veterans] transition back from their military careers to that in the civilian sector, the importance of getting footing in the education and employment sectors are typically the first and second thing that come to their minds, and we have to do more for them,” he said during remarks at the launch.
The new initiatives could be useful steps to create more connections to employment for veterans who often face challenges around employment from cultural differences of life in the military compared to civilian life, or the lingering mental and physical health impacts of service, said Kathyrn King, program director at Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center’s Veteran Outreach Center, in an interview.
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