Starting in 2016, the Department of Veterans Affairs has planned a program to increase education and employment opportunities for veterans. The Veterans Economic Communities Initiative will begin in 25 test counties, according to WKMS.org. One of those counties is Montgomery County in Tennessee.
The news sourced also reported that while many other counties had to apply to be considered for inclusion in the program, the government selected Montgomery County on its own. The heavy military population and Fort Campbell make the Tennessee region an excellent place to test the initiative's effectiveness.
"This is a great opportunity for us to continue to support and empower our local veterans and provide them with the resources necessary for continued success," County Mayor Jim Durrett told ClarksvilleNow.com. "This is yet another tool to assist our veterans in making the decision to stay in Montgomery County after serving."
Every community involved with the initiative will be assigned an economic liaison, as reported by ClarksvilleNow.com. This individual is responsible for working with local government officials and business leaders to develop programs and resources for the veterans in the area. Every liaison position will be funded through the Department of Veterans Affairs.