Governor Josh Stein, North Carolina Department of Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley, and North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Secretary Jocelyn Mitnaul Mallette are urging employers in the state to hire veterans and apply for the HIRE Vets Medallion Award. The application period for this federal recognition program ends April 30.
The HIRE Vets Medallion Award is the only federal-level award that recognizes organizations for their commitment to hiring, retaining, and developing veterans in the workforce. In 2025, a record 34 North Carolina employers received the award, up from 28 recipients in 2024.
“The record number of HIRE Vets awardees from North Carolina in 2025 represents the commitment of this state’s employers to support our military community,” said Governor Josh Stein. “As we strive to be the most military-friendly state, this program is an excellent way for North Carolina’s businesses to demonstrate their eagerness to provide high-quality career opportunities for talented veterans and their families.”
The North Carolina Department of Commerce has introduced an online feature on its NCWorks job search site and Veterans Portal that highlights employers who have received the HIRE Vets medallion. The portal helps veterans find jobs at recognized companies; more than 21,000 users visited it in 2025. Veterans and their families are considered an underutilized talent pool by the Governor’s Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships, which was created by Governor Stein in 2025 to enhance workforce development efforts through partnerships with education leaders, employers, and other stakeholders.
“By investing in our military veterans community, North Carolina’s employers are expanding access to workforce opportunities for veterans and assisting in the transition to civilian life,” said N.C. Department of Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “North Carolina is the top state for business and for workforce development because of our people, and we thank the many employers who strengthen that workforce by recognizing the skills and valuable experience veterans bring.”
Secretary Jocelyn Mitnaul Mallette said: “North Carolina veterans and military families bring leadership, adaptability, and resilience to the workplace every day, which is why we recently launched a roadshow series to bring together employers, workforce leaders, and community partners to strengthen veteran and military-spouse employment opportunities. We are proud to join forces with the N.C. Department of Commerce and others to support veterans and their families and to inform businesses about tools like the HIRE Vets program.”
The award criteria include hiring rates for veterans as well as retention efforts such as veteran-specific resources, leadership programs, dedicated human resources staff, compensation packages, tuition assistance programs, with requirements varying based on employer size. Application fees range from $120 for small businesses up to $640 for large ones.
One recognized employer is Charlotte-based nonprofit Veterans Bridge Home (VBH). Blake Bourne, President and CEO of VBH said: “At Veterans Bridge Home, we are committed to connecting, leading, and advocating in communities to ensure service members, veterans, and their families thrive. We are proud to be a recipient of the Platinum HIRE Vets award and to champion the value veterans bring both to our organization and to others. Founded by a veteran family for veterans and their families, VBH is shaped by the lived experience, leadership, and skills of our veteran teammates. Together we are building stronger communities one veteran at a time.”
The N.C. Department of Commerce employs 48 NCWorks Veterans Services professionals—all military veterans—who help eligible individuals find jobs or training across local career centers statewide while also supporting employer hiring needs. The department also works with North Carolina For Military Employment (NC4ME) on special hiring events.
Employers interested in applying can visit www.HireVets.gov; additional assistance is available at local NCWorks Career Centers listed at www.NCWorks.gov.
