Workforce1 Priority1

The Priority1 blog is a collection of career resources to help service members and their spouses connect to civilian careers in New York City.

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Join VA and its partners Wednesday, January 27 at 1 p.m. ET for a Twitter chat on protecting Veterans from tax identity theft.

Via VAntage Point:

January 25-29 is Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week and Veterans can learn how to protect themselves from being the victims of tax identity theft by joining VA and its partners in an online discussion on Jan. 27 at 11 a.m. EST.

Read more >>

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Veterans and Their Families May be Eligible To File Taxes Absolutely Free | VAntage Point

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Veteran Unemployment Rate Lowest in Nearly 8 Years

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Via @gotyour6​:

America is starting to see the value of a veteran in the workplace! It’s great to start 2016 saying veteran unemployment is at the lowest it’s been in eight years. Read more from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs »

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Managing Your Home Business

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Via @militaryonesource​:

Yes, you read that right: your home business. As a military spouse, a home business may be a great way to have a career that moves when you do. Keeping the business up and running through deployments and relocations can be a challenge, but you can do it with planning, flexibility and commitment.

Your career can thrive if you plan for your relocation and know how to market and manage your home business.

Keep reading »

Looking to start or grow your business in New York City? Whether you need financing assistance, legal advice, ways to score new business opportunities with the City, recruiting advice, or help with permits or licenses, NYC Business Solutions can work for you – for FREE.

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Free Tax Services Available Through Military OneSource

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Why pay for tax software when you don’t have to? Managing your finances or getting help filing your taxes doesn’t cost you a dime through Military OneSource. Military OneSource provides free tax preparation and filing services and tax consultations.

Keep reading »

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Our Commitment To Veterans and Their Families in NYC

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The NYC Department of Small Business Services is committed to ensuring that the City's veterans and their spouses have the services they need to build strong businesses and secure good jobs.

Learn more about our available programs and services below.

There are a variety of free business services available to veterans through NYC Business Solutions, including pro-bono legal services, access to capital, help navigating government, and business courses.

Veterans can also meet with account managers at NYC Business Solutions Centers located throughout New York City that have been specially trained to address veteran business needs.

NYC Business Solutions started offering a 10 Steps To Starting Your Own Business for Military Veterans workshop in multiple locations in 2014. The next class will be held at the NYC Business Solutions Queens Center on November 18. Register To Attend »

Each year, the City of New York buys billions of dollars worth of goods and services. SBS provides training on selling to government to veteran businesses interested in City procurement. We host several workshops each month that teach businesses how to sell to government. Upcoming Courses »

Launched in 2014, FastTrac® NewVenture™ for the Veteran Entrepreneur is an intensive five-week course that includes guidance from successful entrepreneurs, experienced coaches, and a supportive peer community to help new entrepreneurs refine a business concept, develop a strong business plan, and access available resources and exclusive services for veteran entrepreneurs.

We have already served more than 40 veteran business owners, and the third cohort started this week.

Identify yourself as a veteran business owner on the PIP

All vendors seeking to do business with the City of New York must enroll in the Payee Information Portal (PIP) to inform the City of the goods and services they can sell to the City. This past year, the City launched a new PIP feature allowing veteran-owned businesses to identify themselves with the City.

This was an important step identified in the City's 2014 report, A Roadmap for Supporting Veteran-Owned Businesses, as a way to collect information about which veterans are contracting with the City and in what sectors.

Sign Up Here »

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Lynda.com offers a range of courses to suit the needs of active duty service members, transitioning veterans and those veterans already in the private sector. This is a tool to empower you as a professional to connect with opportunity and build your future!

Via LinkedIn:

When Secretary of Defense Ash Carter visited LinkedIn a few months ago, he challenged us and other Silicon Valley companies to play a more active role in supporting service members and veterans. As Veteran Program Manager at LinkedIn and a proud veteran myself, I’m honored to report this Veterans Day that we are answering that call to duty by renewing and expanding our commitment to the military and veteran communities.

To that end, I’m excited to share that we have expanded our veterans program to include online learning with Lynda.com — the gold standard for on-demand learning with more than 4,000 expert-led courses teaching business, creative and technical skills. Lynda.com offers a range of courses to suit the needs of active duty service members, transitioning veterans and those veterans already in the private sector. This is a tool to empower you as a professional to connect with opportunity and build your future!

Read more »

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#HonoringVets on Veterans Day on @ThunderclapIt // @DeptVetAffairs

Via U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs:

On this Veterans Day, we salute our Veterans and extend our gratitude for their service. They are our relatives, friends, neighbors and co-workers. These individuals committed to a cause larger than their own and  accepted the challenge to defend our Nation.

Our Veterans put everything on the line to protect our freedom. We may never be able to repay them for their sacrifice, but we can show them just how much we appreciate all that they’ve done. Everyone can do something to let Veterans know how much we appreciate their service. 

What will you do?

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How to Enter the Work Force After a Severe Injury

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via @militaryonesource​:

A severe injury might change the way you live your life, but it doesn’t mean you can no longer have a meaningful career. When entering the civilian workforce after a severe injury, reach out to professionals who can help with your transition. They can guide you through the many options, benefits and services as well as tailor solutions to fit your unique skills and situation.

Read more »

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VA's new 311VET app can answer general VA benefits questions.

Via VAntage Point:

311VET is VBA’s new benefits app, and it answers a wide range of questions about Veterans benefits, including what benefits you may be entitled to, how to apply for benefits, how different benefits are defined, and where to go to get more information about VA services. 311VET can provide information about most VA benefits, including pension, education, health, disability, loan, burial, and career benefits.

Read more »

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NYC Veteran Resource Expo on October 20 in Brooklyn

Veteran Success Resource Group is hosting a NYC Veteran Resource Expo on October 20, 2015, at Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon St, Brooklyn, NY 11201.

Register to attend »

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5th Annual Veterans on Wall Street Veteran Employment Symposium

The half-day symposium, hosted by Citi, Deutsche Bank, and Goldman Sachs, provides an opportunity for CEOs, board members, senior business leaders, and human resource professionals interested in veterans topics to engage in a dialogue with their peers about implementing solutions and maximizing efforts regarding veteran hiring, integration, and advancement.

United States Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter will provide keynote remarks.

Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2015 Time: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Location: Goldman Sachs Conference Center, 200 West Street

Register to attend »

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New York Filmmaker Casting for Documentary Series

New York City filmmaker Maria Rusolo is casting for her new documentary series “I am number…” which aims to tell the stories of those young men who, on December 1, 1969, gathered with friends and family to listen to the live television and radio broadcasts of the Vietnam Draft Lottery drawing and learn their fate.

“I am number…” will look beyond the number assigned the person and reveal the story, the hopes the fears and the dreams, of the individual. She believes everyone’s story is important to document and this is an opportunity for individuals to share their experiences with the draft and the draft lottery.

Rusolo is looking for first-hand accounts from men born in the years 1944 to 1950 who were eligible for the United States Selective Service and are interested in speaking about their experiences; from the day they were assigned their draft numbers to the path their life followed after it and how the two might be connected. This includes men who were drafted prior to the lottery draft, or voluntarily reported for service.

If you or someone you know is interested in being interviewed and/or would like to learn more about this project, please e-mail Rusolo. Be sure to include your Birthday (mm/dd/yyyy), Draft number, a short description of your story, and the best way to contact you.

Image courtesy U.S. Selective Service System

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Learn How to Make Your Business Idea a Reality

Entrepreneurship Program for Veterans Starting September 30, 2015

If you are a veteran interested in starting your own business, apply to our Veterans Entrepreneurship Program to gain the tools you need to start and grow a business.

Learn the basic fundamentals of entrepreneurship

Develop the skills you need to be an entrepreneur

Understand the market and the need for your product

Refine your business concept and develop a strong business plan

Access available resources and exclusive incentives for veteran entrepreneurs

Apply Now

All veterans who served at least one day in the active U.S. Military, Naval, or Air Service, including the Reserves and National Guard, are eligible to apply.

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Remembering 9/11

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Via militaryonesource​:

The tragic events of 9/11 instilled in Americans a renewed sense of patriotism and the incentive to serve others. Although people pay tribute in different ways, our need to reflect and heal connects us as a nation. The events of 9/11 inspired many of today’s service members, veterans and wounded warriors to serve.

As a military family, you may be looking for a special way to observe the day. Here are a few ideas for reflection and remembrance in honor of those who lost their lives.

Keep reading »