City staff previews April 12 VetFest: job fair, sponsors, exhibitors and rules for veteran‑resource focus

Danielle (City of Surprise staff) briefed the Veterans Disability and Human Services Commission on March 12 about VetFest, scheduled for April 12 at Mark Coronado Park from 5 to 8 p.m.

“Our title sponsor, America’s Mighty Warriors, is returning,” Danielle said, and she thanked Debbie for the continued support. She said the city has sponsorship support from APS, has contracted with Arizona at Work to coordinate the job fair component and that Luke Air Force Base will post colors and provide veteran participation. The event page and registration are on the city website at surpriseaz.gov/vetfest.

Danielle said the event will include a job fair (employers are being recruited), four confirmed veteran‑owned food trucks, vendor and exhibitor booths (about 20 exhibitors at the time of the update), veteran vehicle displays and an expanded kids zone with bounce houses. Youth for Troops will run a care‑package assembly project and a donation drive during the event. The city plans to provide $10 meal vouchers to veterans who attend.

She asked commissioners to promote the event and to encourage nonprofits and employers to register: “My biggest ask of all of you is if you see a post, reshare it. Pass flyers along to anybody you know that should be at the event,” Danielle said. Staff reported 20 exhibitors registered and only one employer signed up as of the last check; they said recruitment of employers and exhibitors was ongoing and urged commissioners to help with outreach.

Commission discussion focused on exhibitor and vendor policy. Staff said last year the event prioritized nonprofit and veteran resources rather than retail sales; this year staff are again filtering exhibitor applications to prioritize resource organizations and nonprofit services. Commissioners discussed a limited exception for veteran‑owned small businesses to promote their businesses or donate raffle prizes, but they generally agreed the event should not be a commercial marketplace and that sales should be limited unless the business is a paid sponsor.

Other logistics discussed: Veteran equipment displays must be coordinated (staff requested details and paperwork from units bringing vehicles or trailers), event timing (fields host leagues earlier in the day, so displays must arrive after 3 p.m.), and promotion channels (social media, Surprise Independent ad distribution to 34,000 households and LinkedIn posts). Staff also noted scheduling conflicts across April events and the challenge of recruiting volunteers for an evening event.

Why it matters: VetFest is a community‑facing recruitment and resource event that seeks to connect veterans to employers, social services, care packages and community resources and to raise local awareness of veteran supports.

Ending: Staff asked commissioners to continue outreach and to refer exhibitors and employers to the city’s VetFest registration page; no policy decisions or funding requests were made at the meeting.