Illinois Building Operator Certification® Program Helping Veterans Get Jobs, Save Energy

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Nov. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The State of Illinois is helping its unemployed and underemployed veterans earn the nationally-recognized Building Operator Certification (BOC®) and achieve gainful employment through the BOC Veterans Pilot program. This program directly addresses the issue of higher unemployment among Illinois returning veterans which was over 11% in 2011.

The BOC Veterans Pilot Program, led by the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) in partnership with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development (DCEO), the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) and several other state and local organizations, targets veterans who have experience and skills that are readily transferable to commercial building operations and maintenance. The Springfield program participants served in the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army, and U.S. Air Force.

"MEEA brought the veterans workforce development program to Illinois because it was an ideal win-win. We train returning veterans for jobs at home and those jobs will save Illinois businesses energy and money," said Jay Wrobel, Executive Director of MEEA.

Since August, Springfield-area enrolled veterans have engaged in a rigorous program at Lincoln Land Community College including eight days of technical training on energy-efficient building operations and maintenance, a mentoring program, and several employment workshops led by the Land of Lincoln Workforce Alliance which focused on topics such as resume building, interviewing skills, and job searching.