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July 23, 2026
LANSING, Mich. – July 25 is National Hire a Veteran Day, a day created to encourage employers to hire veteran candidates transitioning to civilian life. The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) affirms the agency’s commitment to this same mission year-round through their Veteran-Friendly Employer (VFE) program.
The MVAA recognizes employers that commit to military veteran recruitment, training and retention practices by awarding those employers Gold, Silver and Bronze-level status as VFEs. The VFE program helps qualified organizations recruit and retain top veteran talent while providing others a road map to improve their recruitment efforts. Currently, there are 36 Gold, 51 Silver and 111 Bronze-level status employers participating in the program.
“I believe every veteran carries with them traits and experience that employers need,” says MVAA employment analyst Erik Schreur. “It is our mission to see Michigan become the home of choice for transitioning service members and veterans, which we do by growing opportunities and helping employers become the Veteran-Friendly institutions that veterans choose to work for.”
Employers are also encouraged to become a Veteran Connector – a network of institutions and businesses throughout the state of Michigan committed to asking veterans if they’re connected to their earned benefits. Veteran Connectors are provided with toolkits from the MVAA that contain information on many of the benefits veterans may qualify for. Connectors can provide this information to their veteran population and direct them to the Michigan Veteran Resource Service Center at 1-800-MICH-VET (1-800-642-4838), where a benefits check-up can be scheduled to determine the next steps in their process toward seeking benefits.
If your organization would like to be recognized as a VFE, please fill out and submit the Veteran-Friendly Employer Application. For more information about the VFE program or to become a Veteran Connector, email MVAAstrategy@michigan.gov.
Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency – The MVAA is the central coordinating agency, providing support, care, advocacy and service to veterans and their families. As a state agency, the MVAA works to identify and break down barriers veterans face in employment, education, health care and quality of life, to make Michigan a great place for veterans and their families to call home. More information about the MVAA is available at Michigan.gov/MVAA or by reading our FY25 Annual Report.
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