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Borderplex Veterans Expo, claims clinic and workforce efforts set dates; vendors and VA approvals still pending
Summary
City staff and subcommittees updated the Veterans Advisory Committee on the Borderplex Veterans and Family Caregiver Expo, vendor and speaker planning, Bridge Fellows hiring support, and proposals for a veteran‑owned business registry and military spouse licensing support.
City staff and committee subchairs provided updates on a series of veteran‑focused events and workforce initiatives, including the Borderplex Veterans and Family Caregiver Expo, the Bridge Fellows cohort for transitioning service members, and proposed steps to catalogue veteran‑owned businesses.
A city staff update said the Borderplex Veterans and Family Caregiver Expo will include panels, breakout rooms and a live claims clinic staffed by Texas Veterans Commission claims representatives. Vendors and panelists are being confirmed; staff said roughly 20–25 vendor slots remained and participant/speaker confirmations were at about 80 percent for panels. Staff described attendee registration as open on Eventbrite and said some VA participants awaited department approval before confirming.
The city described Bridge Fellows, a hiring pathway that connects transitioning veterans and military spouses to city departments as entry points to careers; staff said cohorts start in April. Committee members discussed a proposal to create a local registry of veteran‑owned businesses and suggested a city registration system that mirrors Texas Veterans Commission criteria (for example, 50% ownership by a veteran) to issue a local designation for qualifying businesses.
Subcommittee chairs also flagged workforce follow‑up: the employment subcommittee discussed hosting a trade fair in partnership with the Texas Veterans Commission and local employers and noted the city received a “We Hire Vets” award from the Texas Veterans Commission for meeting hiring goals.
Why it matters: The expo and workforce initiatives aim to connect veterans to benefits, employers and care resources; scheduling depends on vendor availability and VA approvals for participation. Committee members asked staff to continue outreach to ensure balanced vendor representation and to share registration links with committee members.
