The jobs initiative is open to former service members between the ages of 35 to 60 because they represent more than half of the 800,000 unemployed veterans nationwide, Curtis Coy, VA deputy undersecretary for economic opportunity in Washington, D.C.
In a second round, VRAP will accept up to 54,000 participants between Oct. 1, 2012 and March 31, 2014.
Of the 15,000 applications processed so far, more than 500 live in Ohio, Coy said in an interview with the Dayton Daily News.
In June, veterans recorded a 7.4 percent unemployment rate nationally and 6.6 percent in Ohio, Coy said.
The money will train veterans in vocational careers, said U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, who had a telephone press conference with reporters Wednesday about the program.
Last year, Brown co-sponsored the VOW to Hire Heroes Act, which created VRAP.
“We know in particular as manufacturing and health care jobs are growing these skills are necessary to fill these jobs,” he said.
Messages were left with a campaign spokesperson of Republican senatorial challenger Josh Mandell for comment.
The program classifies more than 200 jobs eligible for training — everything from dental laboratory technicians to tractor-trailer drivers.
“It gives them the opportunity to jump-start a high-demand career in one of those occupations,” Coy said.
Participants must enroll in a community college or a technical college.
Army veteran Phillip L. Powell Sr., 50, of Dayton, has enrolled at Sinclair Community College to earn certification and eventually an associate’s degree in auto mechanics, he said.
Now homeless and living in temporary housing at the Dayton VA Medical Center campus, he said he hopes for a new start.
“It’s basically going to help me establish my life again,” he said.
The training is open to veterans who are not eligible for other VA education benefits, such as the post-911 GI Bill, and pays up to $17,600 a year, depending on the cost of the program.
Veterans may not be enrolled in another federal or state job training or collecting VA compensation because they are unemployed, according to the agency.
Former service members can contact veterans service commission offices in every county in Ohio to apply, or log online at the www.ebenefits.va.gov.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2363 or bbarber@DaytonDaily News.com.
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