VetFran Launches July 4th Outreach Campaign

As July 4^th approaches, with unemployment rates for some groups of veterans hovering over 18%, over 40 IFA members will participate in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Veterans and Small Business Conference and Expo June 26-28 in Detroit.

The franchise industry effort includes the first ever “Franchising Pavilion” at the Expo – one result of a new collaboration between the VA and the IFA to enable more veterans to access career opportunities as franchise business owners and team members.

Last year, the IFA launched “Operation Enduring Opportunity,” a campaign of its VetFran strategic initiative, to hire as team members and recruit as franchise business owners 75,000 veterans and military spouses, plus 5,000 wounded warriors, by 2014.

The following IFA members will lead the industry’s initiative in economically struggling Detroit, where some 6,000 veterans seeking opportunities are expected:

Franchising Pavilion:

1. Allegra Network
2. Big Boy Restaurants
3. CiCi’s Pizza
4. FASTSIGNS
5. Franchise Times
6. FranNet
7. Genuine Parts/ NAPA
8. Guidant Financial
9. Hungry Howie’s
10. KidzArt
11. Lenny’s
12. Moran Family of Brands (Mr. Transmission, Milex, Alta Mere, Smart View, Cobrand)
13. Service Brands International (Molly Maid, Mr. Handyman, 1-800-DryClean, ProTect Painters)
14. Sign-A-Rama, Inc.
15. Sport Clips
16. The Owners Alliance
17. Tim Horton’s
18. Two Men & a Truck International
19. WIN Home Inspection

Hiring Fair:

1. Aaron’s
2. Applebee’s
3. Bank of America
4. Big Boy Restaurants
5. College Hunks Hauling Junk
6. Genuine Parts/ NAPA
7. Handy Pro International
8. Happy’s Pizza
9. The Hertz Corporation
10. Home Instead Senior Care
11. Ilitch Companies (Includes Little Caesars)
12. Moran Family of Brands (Mr. Transmission, Milex, Alta Mere, Smart View, Cobrand)
13. Sears
14. Service Brands International (Molly Maid, Mr. Handyman, 1-800-DryClean, ProTect Painters)
15. Snap-On Tools
16. State Farm Insurance
17. Two Men & a Truck International

Deadline to join the hiring fair is June 15. Please contact IFA’s Josh Merin at jmerin@franchise.org to be part of this important effort.

The IFA will also host media events in cities throughout the nation June 28 with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, local Chambers of Commerce, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) to launch a free online Veterans Franchise Toolkit including a Mentor Network to connect veterans to business leaders and opportunities.

The events will feature new veteran franchise business owners and team members who have started careers in franchising through VetFran and Operation Enduring Opportunity, calling on more small businesses to get involved in the campaign.

Events will take place in Austin, Dallas, Detroit, Denver, Houston, Miami, Minneapolis, Nashville, San Diego, Washington, D.C. and elsewhere. If you would like to participate in a media event in your city or those listed here, please contact Beth Solomon, IFA Vice President, Strategic Initiatives & Industry Relations, at bsolomon@franchise.org.

“As we continue to work hard each and every day to extend career opportunities to our nation’s veterans, we commend our members who are participating in Detroit – they are setting the right example for our industry and our entire nation,” said Steve Caldeira, CFE, IFA’s President & CEO. “But as Memorial Day served to remind us, the unemployment rate among some groups of veterans is as high as 18%. That’s why we have to keep our focus and keep the pedal to the metal on VetFran, Operation Enduring Opportunity and a strong showing for those who have served and sacrificed for our nation.”