SC governor, National Guard fete businesses hiring veterans

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and National Guard commander Maj. Gen. Robert Livingston are celebrating the success of their initiative to find jobs for military veterans.

The two are recognizing 16 organizations that have been key in helping their year-old program put veterans to work. The event is scheduled for Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the Sysco firm in Columbia,

Executive Director Cheryl M. Stanton of the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce is speaking on what training and support is still needed to move the program ahead.

DEW announced earlier this month that the state’s unemployment rate for veterans has dropped to 3.5 percent in 2014 from 4.1 percent in 2013.