The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is partnering with 50 cities to provide economic opportunities for veterans nationwide.
According to the VA, the Veterans Economic Communities Initiative, launched on May 18, aims to increase employment and education opportunities for former servicemembers through national and local employers alike.
"The best way to get things done for veterans is to involve partners from both the public and private sectors – national to local," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald. "If history has shown us anything, it's that all you have to do is give veterans an opportunity and they will go beyond anything you could ever envision."
Each community will have a VA Economic Liaison who will encourage and coordinate participation among public and private organizations that offer resources for veterans, the VA reported. The initiative's partners include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, departments of Defense and Labor, large companies like Hilton and TriWest, and others, at both the national and local level.
While data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that unemployment for veterans declined in 2014, the numbers are still above 5 percent for both male and female veterans. The VA hopes that the community partnerships created by the VECI will accelerate job growth for America's soldiers.