Hagadone Directories helps 'American Hometown Heroes'

COEUR d'ALENE - Hagadone Directories Inc., publisher of The Black Book, and a coalition of independent Yellow Pages publishers have banded together to create a new jobs program.

"American Hometown Heroes" is under way in 49 states and 40,000 communities.

The initiative provides free professional marketing advice and consultation to any returning veteran who would like to start a business in their hometown.

"Few among us have sacrificed as much as the men and women of our nation's armed forces," said Jim Hail, president and co-owner of Hagadone Directories. "The men and women of our nation's armed services put their lives on the line to protect our freedom. The American Hometown Heroes initiative allows us to help returning veterans start a small business," Hail said. "Small business is the foundation of our nation's economy."

The program includes a comprehensive no-cost advertising program in The Black Book, both print and online, for a year.

Celebrities supporting the program include Bo Derek, John Corbett, Ann Margaret and Dyan Cannon.

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate among military veterans is nearly double the national average as many return home to find the current state of the economy offering limited job support and business opportunities.

"We need to change the culture and perception that the men and women of the armed forces have a limited skill set," said Chaz Donovan, director of personnel and recruiting at Hagadone Directories Inc. "They have more to offer the work force than simply combat skills."

Hagadone Directories, Inc./The Black Book was one of five original founding publishers of the "American Hometown Heroes" program which was started by Mike McGill of McGill Publishing in Santa Barbara, Calif.

Hagadone Directories Inc. was founded by Jim Hail in 1987 and today serves about 50,000 businesses and 1.6 million consumers in Idaho, California, Montana, Oregon and Washington.