Local veterans looking for a new job got some extra help on Friday.

Goodwill Manasota and Career Source hosted the second annual Veterans & Their Families Jobs Fair at Goodwill Manasota’s corporate campus, located at 2705 51st Ave E in Bradenton, off U.S. 301.

Previously, the jobs fair included booths from employers as well as veterans’ services and educational sources. However, this year, the fair focused on employers only, which was great news for those looking for a job.

“We anticipated 38 employers and we ended up with 48," said C.J. Bannister, Director of the Veterans Program at Goodwill. "They had to have two positions available and be hiring immediately.”

Last year, Goodwill served over 300 veterans and there are plans to increase that number.

“We appreciate our heroes and our American Veterans & Their Families Initiative was started because of a need in our community that we wanted to meet,” said Bob Rosinsky, president & CEO of Goodwill Manasota. “Veterans are returning home from deployment and are facing difficulty obtaining employment; we want to help however we can.  This jobs fair is just one way we can help our heroes reintegrate back into civilian life, and find their place in our community.”

For more information on the Jobs Fair, contact Don Hill at (941) 355-2721, ext. 454 or email don.hill@gimi.org.