WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Small Business Administration was recently recognized by Peace Corps and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) as a member of the Employers for National Service and its commitment to hire AmeriCorps and Peace Corps alums.
Announced by President Obama at the White House in September 2014 as part of the 20th anniversary of AmeriCorps, Employers of National Service builds a talent pipeline which connects AmeriCorps and Peace Corps alumni with leading employers.
In making the announcement, SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet said: “Peace Corps volunteers share many of the same talents with our most successful small businesses and entrepreneurs, including a strong work ethic, resilience, ingenuity and determination. Their experience in economic development is closely aligned with our mission at SBA, and we are leveraging their talent and unique set of experiences on behalf of America’s small business community.”
The announcement also included Boys Town USA, Delta Air Lines, and MasterCard; federal agencies, the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); as well as the City of Kansas City, Mo. Altogether, the organizations employ more than 200,000 individuals.
Since the President’s launch of the initiative in 2014, more than 350 companies, nonprofits, and public agencies have signed on as Employers of National Service including Disney, Comcast, NBC Universal, CSX, Sodexo, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, United Way Worldwide, the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, the National Science Foundation, the cities of Nashville, Philadelphia and Phoenix, the states of Montana and Virginia, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of State.
###
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 and since January 13, 2012 has served as a Cabinet-level agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, the SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S.Virgin Islands and Guam. www.sba.gov .
Employers of National Service have a competitive edge in reaching a large and diverse pool of talented individuals and have their job opportunities promoted to a vast network of talented job seekers. CNCS and Peace Corps are leading the effort along with AmeriCorps Alums, the National Peace Corps Association, and the Service Year Alliance. For more information on becoming an Employer of National Service visit nationalservice.gov/employers, or contact employers@cns.gov.
CNCS engages millions of Americans in service through its AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, Social Innovation Fund, and Volunteer Generation Fund programs, and leads the President's national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.
The Peace Corps sends the best and brightest Americans abroad on behalf of the United States to address the most pressing needs of people around the world. Volunteers work with their community members at the grassroots level to develop sustainable solutions to challenges in education, health, economic development, agriculture, environment and youth development. Through their service, volunteers gain a unique cultural understanding and a life-long commitment to service that positions them to succeed in today’s global economy. Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, more than 220,000 Americans of all ages have served in 141 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.peacecorps.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.