State launching $1.9 million campaign to attract veterans

Part of $6.8 million initiative approved by lawmakers

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The state of Wisconsin is launching a $1.9 million effort to convince military personnel and their spouses to relocate to the state when they transition to civilian life, Gov. Scott Walker announced Friday.

The campaign is part of $6.8 million state lawmakers approved earlier this year for marketing to attract potential workers to the state. An initial campaign targeted millennials in the Chicago-area earlier this year. That effort expands to other Midwestern cities this fall and the state targets alumni of higher education institutions in Wisconsin as well.

โ€œAs our dedicated members of the military prepare to return to civilian life, they are looking for the best place possible to start a new career, raise a family and enjoy an outstanding quality of life. We are going to make a strong case that Wisconsin can meet all those needs โ€“ and more,โ€ Walker said in a statement.

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An example of Wisconsinโ€™s ads targeting veterans transitioning to civilian life.

The governor and a number of members of his administration are making stops at businesses around the state Friday to promote the new effort.

The veteran campaign includes sending a delegation of Wisconsin officials to military basis in California, Washington, North Carolina, Hawaii, Missouri, Texas, Georgia, Germany and Japan. The governorโ€™s office says the state is the first to partner with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundationโ€™s Hiring our Heroes program. The delegation will be attending Hiring our Heroesโ€™ summits at each base, starting with Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base in California on Wednesday and Thursday of next week.

Other elements of the effort include a paid media campaign that will run through June 30, 2019. Social media posts targeting transitioning veterans, geo-targeted digital ads around bases the delegation is visiting and print and online ads in publications targeting transitioning veterans and their spouses are all included in the paid media campaign.

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A section of InWisconsin.com, the stateโ€™s talent attraction website, will be dedicated to info for veterans. The Department of Workforce Development is also adding a military occupation code search tool to its WiscJobsForVets.com website to help veterans find jobs matching their skillsets.

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