NBCUniversal & U.S. Chamber of Commerce Launch 'Next Steps for Vets' Web Portal

NBCUniversal, in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, announced today the launch of "Next Steps for Vets (http://veterans.nbcnews.com/)," a web portal that features tools and resources to help veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses with employment and education opportunities. The portal, hosted by NBCNews.com, serves as a nationwide network that equips veterans with essential tools and information to help them in their transition after returning home from military service.

The portal will feature the best resources and tools from leading industry partners, in addition to NBC News features, and family, spouse and small business resources. A few of the unique offerings include:

· A Resume Engine tool that translates military experience into strengths human resources professionals can understand.
· A G.I. bill calculator that helps vets evaluate the benefits they are eligible for under the post-9/11 G.I. bill.
· A job finder tool that features professions from the National Resource Directory's Veteran's Job Bank.
· A "12 step guide" to starting a small business, featuring leading resources from Syracuse University's Institute for Veterans and Military Families entrepreneurship training programs, and articles, videos and online training sessions from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
· A job fairs map displaying the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's upcoming "Hiring Our Heroes" fairs.
· eMentor Leadership Program to connect military spouses with counselors.
· A library of relevant news stories from NBCNews.com.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, veterans are 45% more likely to be self-employed than non-veterans, and small businesses have a great impact on the American economy. The "Next Steps for Vets" portal includes key information and counseling for veterans and their families focusing on economic empowerment and launching self-owned businesses, including resources from the U.S. Small Business Administration and Blue Star Spouse Professional Networks. Additionally, in partnership with Blue Star Spouse Professional Networks military spouses will have a forum to connect online, share information, and learn about what they need to build a career and future for themselves.

"Our returning servicemen and women can be a vital part of the U.S. workforce, putting the skills they've learned in the military to work for companies or their own business enterprise," said Beth Colleton, Senior Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility, NBCUniversal. "Next Steps for Vets provides them with the tools they need to navigate and prepare for these employment, small business and education opportunities and supports veterans in their return to civilian life."

The unemployment rate of post-9/11 veterans is higher than that of the national average (10.1% compared to 7.2%, in September 2013). And in the next five years, more than 1 million servicemen and women will leave active duty and enter the workforce. Many will feel thrust into an entirely different world, without the relationships or knowledge to help them navigate their way to a new job. The centralized HUB offers the best resources from leading industry partners, in addition to NBC News features, and family, spouse and community resources.

"It can be overwhelming for veterans and military spouses to navigate through all the employment and education resources available and "Next Steps for Vets" is a perfect solution to that problem," said Eric Eversole, executive director of Hiring Our Heroes. "NBCUniversal is one of our most valued partners, and we are honored to work together to create this tremendous resource for returning service members and their families."

Comcast and NBCUniversal have fostered a culture that supports veterans, reservists and their families within its ranks. In March 2013, NBCUniversal and Comcast announced their longstanding support of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's "Hiring Our Heroes" initiative, a nationwide effort to help veterans and spouses find meaningful employment, and doubled its pledge by committing to hire an additional 1,000 U.S. veterans by 2015.

About NBCUniversal

NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks, and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

About U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Hiring Our Heroes

Hiring Our Heroes, a program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, was launched in March 2011 as a nationwide initiative to help veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses find meaningful employment. Working with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's vast network of state and local chambers and other strategic partners from the public, private, and non-profit sectors, the goal is to create a movement across America in hundreds of communities where veterans and military families return every day. Hiring Our Heroes has hosted more than 640 fairs in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. Through March 31, 2013, 20,200 veterans and military spouses had obtained jobs.

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