$250,000 Grant to Fund Woodbridge Military Assistance Center

Written and submitted by Woodbridge officials

Mayor John E. McCormac and Paul J. Sansone, Sr., Chairman of the Board of Motors Management Corp. and The Sansone Dealer Group, today announced the award of a $250,000.00 grant which will fund the Woodbridge Military Assistance Center – an outreach program in place to assist Woodbridge-area Veterans.

According to Mayor McCormac, the Sansone-Woodbridge Military Assistance Center will partner with Woodbridge-area businesses and education institutions to assist current and returning Veterans, National Guard members, Reservists and spouses with securing employment and advancing educational opportunities. The Sansone-Woodbridge Military Assistance Center will establish a network of corporate and business employers and educational institutions to offer employment counseling and training, educational assistance, and program guidance to Veterans and spouses.

“Helping Woodbridge Township Veterans transition back to civilian employment and assisting our Veterans secure well-paying, professional employment is a top priority for Woodbridge Township. The Sansone Dealership Infrastructure provides the seed money needed to establish long-term associations and programs with area corporations and businesses as we strive to provide job-training, educational assistance, and employment opportunities for current and returning Veterans,” said Mayor McCormac. “This program is a perfect example of the Woodbridge business and corporate sector offering not only financial assistance, but long-term employment and educational opportunities, in concert with Municipal programs and services, that will maximize resources to address the significant employment and educational needs of our returning ‘Home Town Hero’s.”

“Today’s world is becoming increasing complicated,” said Paul J. Sansone, Sr. “We need to have a strong military in order to protect our country and our interests. We ask our young men and women to put their lives in harm’s way in order to protect our country. When they return to civilian life we have an obligation to assist their transaction into jobs and careers. The Sansone Woodbridge Military Assistance Center will, hopefully, help to facilitate this transition”

Joining Mayor McCormac and Paul Sansone to announce the Sansone-Woodbridge Military Assistance Center were Raymond L. Zawacki, Deputy Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Veterans Affairs; Kevin Kurdziel, Director, Middlesex County Workforce Development; Robert Looby, New Jersey Chairman, American Legion Economics and Employment Committee; Ron Davie, Director, Sansone-Woodbridge Military Assistance Center and Past Commander, American Legion T. Nulty Post #471 Colonia, and members of the Woodbridge Metro Chamber of Commerce.

The Sansone-Woodbridge Military Assistance Center is geared to assist Veterans by locating the resources available to all military personnel and their spouses. The Center will offer vocational and career training grants; employment and job-search coaching; post-service Veteran education assistance; Veterans employer subsidies; social media networking, and guidance on available federal, state, county and local available to Veterans.

PHOTO CAPTION 1:

Paul Sansone, Sr. announces start-up of the Sansone-Woodbridge Military Assistance Center at the 15th Annual Woodbridge Metro Chamber of Commerce Mayors Breakfast.

PHOTO CAPTION 2:

Mayor John E. McCormac and Paul Sansone, Sr., along with members of the Woodbridge Veterans Alliance, announce the Sansone-Woodbridge Military Assistance Center.