Missouri Organization Programs Are Ready for 30 Troops to Be Home for Christmas

Intro:	The Economic Development communications director says the Show Me Heroes program makes businesses take a pledge to give first priority to veterans when hiring.
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Wrap: Communications Director John Fougere says since the program's beginning in 2010, 1,400 businesses have taken the pledge and 300 veterans have been hired.

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Description: "This program is a win-win because not only is it something that can assist veterans as they return but it also benefits the employers because they're getting new employees who are very dedicated, they're very thorough, they obviously have a lot of drive and great work ethic."

The department also has 43 career centers that assist troops by matching them with jobs where they can apply their specific skills.

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Description: "We are ready to work for them to make sure that they do assimilate back into society and then more specifically onto the job market."

Reporting from the state Capitol I'm Jessi Turnure.

Intro:	A Missouri National Guard lieutenant says he's hopeful state programs will help troops find jobs upon their return.
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Wrap: Lieutenant Colonel Alan Rohlfing works with the Division of Workforce Development to help veterans through the Show Me Heroes program and career centers.

Rohlfing says the programs ensure:

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Description: "Those that need civilian employment are receiving the attention that they need and help with whatever it is in their job search that they need help with."

The 43 career centers offer regular seminars and workshops and have veteran staff that ease the connection between job seeker and available jobs.

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Description: "We collaborate and work together when we can. We're always engaging in dialog to see what else we can do. Things that maybe haven't been tried from any particular perspective before that maybe we can implement and help make a difference."

Reporting from the state Capitol I'm Jessi Turnure.

Intro:	The day before Veteran's Day, the Economic Development Department is being gagged when asked what it's doing to help veterans find jobs upon their return.
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Wrap: The Workforce Development Division is a branch within the Economic Development Department to help all Missourians with employment.

However, the communication director of the Workforce Development Division refused to comment on what the department was doing to help the returning Missouri National Guard troops until he talked to one more person he refused to name.

This person was Communications Director John Fougere of the Economic Development Department.

When asked why the Workforce Development Division couldn't comment, Fougere says:

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Description: "They're a division within our department. I mean in other words I'm a spokesperson for the entire department and so when I speak for the department, I speak for all the divisions as well. That's all that was."

Reporting from the state Capitol I'm Jessi Turnure