Chicago and Waukegan — Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas are proud to join all Chicagoans in honoring the men and women who have served as members of the Armed Forces, as our nation celebrates Veterans Day on Nov. 11.
“We are extremely grateful for the contributions our nation’s veterans have made while serving our country,” said Maria Bocanegra, president — Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas. “We have a long tradition of supporting Chicago-area veterans in and out of the workplace. And we’re equally grateful to provide opportunities for employment and services, while supporting a number of visible and effective regional programs that benefit and support veterans.”
Peoples Gas is a co-founder of the Utility Workers Military Assistance Program (UMAP), one of the utility industry’s preeminent training and employment programs. Launched in 2012, UMAP offers training and a pathway to careers in the utility industry for service members and veterans through a partnership including Gas Workers Local 18007, City Colleges of Chicago, Utility Union Workers of America (UWUA) Power for America Training Trust Fund and Peoples Gas. Through UMAP, veterans receive instruction on constructing and operating natural gas distribution systems — training that earns participants college credit hours toward an associate in science degree.
To date, the program has trained more than 600 veterans for careers in the utility sector. Many of those individuals are currently part of the Peoples Gas workforce, including operations, construction and repair personnel.
In September of this year, Peoples Gas signed an agreement with Gas Workers Local 18007 to extend the UMAP program in the coming years.
Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas also support and participate year round in several assistance programs in the region, among them:
- Thresholds Veterans Project — focused on housing and support services, employment and education support, and therapy and counseling resources. In 2026, the project set a goal of serving 320 veterans.
- Community Action Partnership of Lake County — focused on housing for low-income veterans and their families.
- Operation Job Ready Veterans — a Midwest-based nonprofit organization dedicated to bridging life’s transitional gaps for veterans, service members and military families. Core services include resume development, job search assistance, interview preparation, career assessments and networking strategies.
- Veteran Business Project — a nonprofit organization that helps veterans and military spouses become business owners. Participants are matched with experienced business mentors who guide them through acquiring and operating a business, including identifying suitable funding options.
- Midwest Veterans Closet — a charitable organization supporting Chicagoland veterans, including those experiencing homelessness and many more at risk. Veterans receive basic necessities at no cost, along with camaraderie, peer-to-peer support and a welcoming environment. The organization also serves as a warming and cooling center when needed.
- Honor Flight Chicago — Peoples Gas sponsored Honor Flight Chicago’s 130th flight to Washington, D.C., on July 29, 2026, marking the company’s third consecutive year supporting the program. The daylong trip honored 107 veterans from the Vietnam and Korean wars and World War II, including a retired Peoples Gas employee.
