EXECUTIVE ORDER  83-18

Establishing a Council on Veterans' Business and Employment

With 625,000 veterans, Washington has the third largest per capita population of veterans in the nation. Far too many of our veterans are unemployed, and their special needs require special action. Creating employment and business opportunities for veterans is a top priority of the state.

There are currently a number of Federal and state programs for veteran training and employment and for the development of small businesses owned by veterans. Significant opportunities can be found for veterans through the Emergency Veterans Job Training Act of 1983, the Small Business Administration, other Federal and state government programs and the private sector. A coordinating council should be established to maximize these opportunities for our veterans and to provide them with the information and assistance they need. We owe our veterans this special effort.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, John Spellman, Governor of the state of Washington, do hereby establish the Governor's Advisory Council on Veterans Business and Employment as follows:

A. The membership of the Council shall be appointed by the Governor and shall be composed of representatives of:

1. Department of Veterans Affairs
2. Department of Employment Security
3. U.S. Veterans Administration
4. U.S. Department of Labor
5. U.S. Small Business Administration
6. Vietnam Veterans Leadership Project
7. The Association of Washington Business
8. Industry, retail and wholesale executives
9. Other private sector representatives

B. The Director of the Department of Veterans Affairs will chair The Council.

C. The Council shall publicize information on the value of hiring veterans. This information should include a review of existing programs and recently enacted legislation which assist both employers and veterans.

D. The Council shall gather information on programs available to assist veterans and disabled veteran-owned businesses.

E. The Council shall develop recommendations on the best way to publicize the employment and business information.

F. The Council shall review existing training and job referral systems and make recommendations regarding new Federal programs.

G. The Department of Veterans Affairs will provide administrative support to the Council and will coordinate staff support for the Council with other relevant state agencies.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set
my hand and caused the seal of the State of
Washington to be affixed at Olympia this
16th day of December A.D., Nineteen hundred and eighty-three.

John Spellman
Governor of Washington

BY THE GOVERNOR:



Secretary of State