Picture a Broward hiring manager with six open roles, a stack of résumés that never quite match, and a calendar that keeps filling up. On Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2026, that manager can spend one morning in Tamarac meeting veterans face to face. CareerSource Broward is hosting its 2026 Paychecks for Patriots Job Fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and employers sign up through the official Paychecks for Patriots employer registration page.
According to the CareerSource Broward event page, the fair "gives Broward County employers direct access to veterans who bring proven skills, leadership, and dedication to the workplace." Veterans receive priority, but the event is open to the public, which widens the pool for any employer trying to fill positions quickly.
For a small business, a restaurant group, a contractor or a growing tech shop, this is a low friction way to meet candidates in person. The work happens before the day itself: registering, getting set up in the state job system, and preparing open roles that a veteran can read and understand at a glance.
The Event at a Glance
The basics come straight from CareerSource Broward. The 2026 Paychecks for Patriots Job Fair takes place Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Tamarac Community Center, 8601 W Commercial Blvd, Tamarac, FL 33321.
Employers do not park at the venue. On event day, employer parking is at Tamarac City Hall, 7525 NW 88th Ave, Tamarac, FL 33321, which the event page lists as 0.2 miles away. CareerSource Broward says courtesy air conditioned shuttles will run continuously from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., so teams can arrive early to set up and leave after the last conversation without a long walk carrying banners and boxes.
That shuttle window matters for planning. A booth team that wants to be ready when doors open at 9 a.m. should aim to park well before then, and anyone hauling a display should pack light enough to ride a shuttle.
How Employer Registration Works
Registration starts with a short interest form on the event page. The form asks for a contact's first and last name, phone number, email address, city and zip code, plus the company name, industry type, number of positions, salary range, and whether the business is registered in Employ Florida.
Submitting the form is not the same as a confirmed booth. The confirmation message on the page says a CareerSource Broward team member "will reach out to you within 48 hours with more information." Employers should treat the form as the first step and watch their inbox and phone for that follow up, which is where event details get settled.
The same confirmation message points employers to current sponsorship opportunities. Businesses that want more visibility than a standard presence can ask about sponsorship during that follow up conversation.
Costs and What Is Still Unknown
The event page does not publish a booth fee or a sponsorship price list. It mentions that sponsorship opportunities exist but does not list amounts on the public page. Employers should ask about any cost directly when CareerSource Broward follows up, rather than assume the event is free or paid.
What the agency does say is that its core recruiting tools come at no cost. Its Solutions for Recruiting page describes "no-cost job postings and HR resources," and says there is no cost to use Employ Florida. Candidate pre screening, skills assessments, interview scheduling and even facility space for interviews are listed among the services available to Broward employers.
The event page also does not post a registration deadline. With a fixed number of tables at any venue, the practical move is to register early and confirm details during the 48 hour follow up instead of waiting for November.
Get Registered in Employ Florida First
The registration form asks whether a business is registered in Employ Florida, and that question is a useful nudge. CareerSource Broward's recruiting page says that before a business completes a job order form, it "MUST be registered in Employ Florida."
Employ Florida is the state's online system for connecting employers and job seekers. According to CareerSource Broward, employers can use it to define skills, post job orders, set up a Virtual Recruiter search agent that automatically finds matching candidates, and research salary and labor market data.
Getting the account set up now pays off twice. It satisfies the step CareerSource Broward requires before job orders, and it means open positions can be posted and searchable before Nov. 17, so candidates who meet a business at the fair can find the same roles online afterward.
How to Prepare Roles Veterans Can Read
Military experience does not always translate neatly into civilian job titles. A logistics specialist, a communications technician or a squad leader may have exactly the skills a business needs without using the same words a job posting uses. The fix is on the employer's side of the table.
Start with the skills, not just the title. A posting that says "manage inventory for a 40 item warehouse" or "lead a crew of five" tells a veteran more than a vague internal title. CareerSource Broward says its staff can help businesses develop internal position titles and write customized job descriptions, and can provide current salary data and occupational outlook information.
Be ready to talk pay. The registration form already asks for a salary range, so the number should be settled before the fair. Candidates appreciate a straight answer, and a clear range saves time for both sides.
Plan the follow up before the event. Decide who will collect contact information, how quickly interviews will be scheduled, and who has authority to make an offer. The event page frames the fair as a way to fill open positions fast, and speed after the event is where many hires are won or lost.
Tax Credit Questions to Settle Before Hiring
CareerSource Broward's Hidden Sources of Talent page lists federal tax credits for hiring veterans, ranging from up to $2,400 to up to $9,600 depending on factors such as how long a veteran has been unemployed and whether the veteran has a service connected disability.
Those figures describe the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, and the timing needs a careful look. The IRS Work Opportunity Tax Credit page, last updated July 20, 2026, says the credit was authorized until Dec. 31, 2025, and refers to qualified veterans who begin work before 2026. A veteran hired after this fair would start work in late 2026.
The IRS page also explains the process that applies when the credit is available: the employer and applicant complete Form 8850 on or before the day a job offer is made, and the employer has 28 calendar days from the start date to submit it to the state's designated local agency. Businesses counting on the credit should confirm its current status with a tax professional before building it into a hiring budget.
Other Veteran Hiring Help in Broward
The job fair is one piece of a wider set of services. CareerSource Broward's Veterans Services page says its staff gives priority of service to Broward County veterans, eligible spouses and transitioning service members. It notes that the agency hosts job fairs and recruitment events throughout the year aimed at veterans and military families, and that Local Veteran Employment Representatives advocate on behalf of veterans.
The same page describes Get There Faster, a SkillUp Broward program for military families that offers no cost career pathway training to military connected clients who are unemployed or underemployed. It also lists priority of service for eligible veterans for a $12,000 WIOA scholarship. For an employer, that means a pipeline of veterans who are actively building credentials, which can be worth asking about at the fair.
Employers who want ongoing help, not just a one day event, can also reach the agency's Job Order Unit year round. Broward businesses looking at training dollars for new hires can read a guide to the CareerSource Broward employer training money map.
A Simple Employer Checklist
Here is the order of operations, built from what CareerSource Broward publishes:
- Register on the official employer page and watch for the follow up call or email within 48 hours.
- Create or confirm an Employ Florida employer account.
- Post open positions in Employ Florida with skills based descriptions and a salary range.
- Ask about any booth cost or sponsorship options during the follow up.
- Plan to park at Tamarac City Hall and use the shuttle, which runs from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Assign someone to schedule interviews within days of the event.
- Confirm tax credit status with a tax professional before counting on it.
Who to Contact
CareerSource Broward lists office contacts for employers. The Job Order Unit can be reached at (954) 677 5627 or jobs@careersourcebroward.com. The agency's veterans team lists CSBDVets@careersourcebroward.com and (954) 967 1010 extension 236. The Central Center is at 2550 West Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, (954) 677 5555, and career centers are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on legal holidays.
Employers planning other South Florida hiring this season can also see how productions are sourcing local crew and vendors in a look at Miami Vice 85 local hiring.
Sources
- CareerSource Broward, 2026 Paychecks for Patriots Job Fair employer page
- CareerSource Broward, Solutions for Recruiting
- CareerSource Broward, Hidden Sources of Talent
- CareerSource Broward, Veterans Services
- IRS, Work Opportunity Tax Credit
- Employ Florida
Related
Key Facts
When and where is the 2026 Paychecks for Patriots Job Fair?
CareerSource Broward is hosting the 2026 Paychecks for Patriots Job Fair on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Tamarac Community Center, 8601 W Commercial Blvd, Tamarac. Veterans receive priority, but the event is open to the public, giving employers a broad pool of candidates to meet in person.
How do Broward employers register for the job fair?
Employers complete the interest form on the CareerSource Broward employer page, listing contact details, company name, industry, number of positions, salary range and Employ Florida status. A CareerSource Broward team member follows up within 48 hours with more information. Submitting the form starts the process, and event details are settled during that follow up conversation.
Does it cost employers anything to take part?
The public event page does not list a booth fee or sponsorship prices, though it mentions that sponsorship opportunities are available. Employers should ask about any cost during the follow up. CareerSource Broward describes its job postings and HR resources as no cost, and says there is no cost to use Employ Florida for recruiting.
Where should employers park on event day?
Employer parking is at Tamarac City Hall, 7525 NW 88th Ave, Tamarac, which CareerSource Broward lists as 0.2 miles from the venue. Courtesy air conditioned shuttles run continuously from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., giving booth teams time to arrive early, set up before doors open at 9 a.m., and pack up after the fair ends.
Can employers still claim veteran hiring tax credits?
CareerSource Broward lists veteran hiring credits of up to $2,400 to $9,600. The IRS Work Opportunity Tax Credit page, updated July 20, 2026, says the credit was authorized until Dec. 31, 2025, and refers to veterans who begin work before 2026. Employers should confirm current status with a tax professional before counting on any credit.
