Veteran incentive program looks to Washington County

WASHINGTON — A statewide, Iowa Workforce Development program designed to assist veterans’ reentry into civilian life and bring employees to Iowa communities is asking for support in Washington County, along with several others across the state.

Home Base Iowa Program Manager Jathan Chicoine told the Washington County Board of Supervisors Tuesday that the “public-private partnership” hoped to have the program running in all 99 counties county by the start of 2024. The HBI website lists 24 that have yet to launch the program.

“It’s not too often that we have an opportunity to have this shared sense of responsibility of returning service to veterans,” Chicoine said. “Becoming an HBI community sends a really great message. As we’re out there recruiting across the nation, we want to be able to say, ‘Hey, Washington’s a really great place to go live.’”

Chicoine said the status would bring training to participating businesses, as well as a network to connect veterans with potential employers in the area.

It would also, however, require some moves on the county’s end.

Chicoine said participating counties needed a resolution affirming county supervisors’ support, buy-in from area businesses, and a county-organized “incentive package.”

While the program manager said that package didn’t necessarily need to be financial, he did list relocation support and home-purchasing grants as some of the most effective ways to attract interest and generate a “return on investment.”

Henry County, Washington’s neighbor to the southeast, became an HBI county in 2016, according to the organization’s website.

While the program only requires counties to implement at least three incentives for veterans, Henry County’s list is 12 bullet points long. It includes vouchers for hotel rooms and meals during their job search process, covered by the area Chamber of Commerce; school district-provided event passes; in some cities, it includes property tax abatement for home improvement work.

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“My office used to be a 20-hour-a-week office, and now we’ve increased our hours to 40 and we see a lot of veterans a month,” said Henry County Veterans Affairs Service Officer Roger Pittsenbarger. “I think it’s a great thing, it’s one of the best things our county’s done, in getting veterans to locate here.”

Still, incentives may prove a tall hurdle for Washington County to clear if they rely on county dollars. Supervisor Jack Seward Jr., who is himself a veteran, said he wasn’t sure the funding for such an endeavor existed.

“Cost has to figure into things,” he said. “We’ve just entered a new budget year, and so if it’s going to be a financial cost, we need to figure out where that money’s going to come from and things like that.”

Supervisor Stan Stoops, a former Marine, was more optimistic about the pitch.

“This is helpful to veterans,” he said. “Anything like that would be welcome in this county.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com