U.S. Chamber of Commerce News Release:

Release Date: Mar 28, 2013Contact: 888-249-NEWS

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U.S. Chamber’s Hiring Our Heroes and Spike TV Launch Small Business Tournament of Veteran Champions

Competition Will Engage Public to Identify the Most Veteran-Friendly Small Business in America; Winner to Receive Custom Spot on Spike TV

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes program and Spike TV’s Hire A Vet campaign today launched theSmall Business Tournament of Veteran Champions, a competition to identify the most veteran-friendly small business in America. The winning business will receive a custom spot produced by and aired on Spike TV.

“The key to finding meaningful employment for our nation’s veterans and transitioning servicemembers is by engaging the 27 million small businesses that fuel our economy,” said Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Schmiegel (ret.), executive director of Hiring Our Heroes. “The tournament is the perfect way to showcase those small businesses that are already demonstrating a commitment to hire and support America’s heroes. We hope this competition will inspire others to start considering this incredible talent pool.”

The Small Business Tournament of Veteran Champions will accept applications from small business owners on the tournament’s official website, VetChampsTourney.com, from March 28, 2013, through April 26, 2013. A panel of judges will then select eight regional finalists. From there, a combination of public voting and panel of judges will narrow it down to four semifinalists and the same format will be used to select a winner. Judging for the tournament will be based on criteria such as innovative recruiting and retention strategies for veterans, veteran community engagement and leadership as well as an ongoing commitment to hire veterans.

“We are thrilled to partner with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on such a worthy program that will spotlight the businesses that are giving America’s heroes the employment opportunities they so richly deserve,” said Kevin Kay, Spike TV President.

In addition to receiving a custom 30-second spot produced by and aired on Spike TV, the winner will receive two tickets, airfare, and hotel accommodations to attend the Spike TV Guys’ Choice Awards. The winning business will be announced and recognized at the Awards, which is scheduled to air on June 12, 2013.
Throughout the tournament, please join the conversation on Twitter: #VetChamps.

Hiring Our Heroes launched in March 2011 as a nationwide initiative to help veterans and military spouses find meaningful employment. Working with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s vast network of state and local chambers and other strategic partners from the public, private, and non-profit sectors, the goal is to create a movement across America in hundreds of communities where veterans and military families return every day. To date, Hiring Our Heroes has hosted more than 450 hiring fairs in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. More than 18,400 veterans and military spouses have obtained jobs.

Hire A Vet helps veterans prepare for and find jobs. It encourages companies large and small to hire veterans and gives them access to the resources necessary to do so.

Spike TV is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks.  A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.  Spike TV’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press.  Follow us on Twitter@spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation (USCCF) is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce dedicated to strengthening America’s long-term competitiveness by addressing developments that affect our nation, our economy, and the global business environment.