By Casey Jarmes | The News-Review
SIGOURNEY – On April 24, Zachary Nelson of Home Base Iowa, an organization that helps veterans find employment and connects them with resources in the state of Iowa, met with KCED and local veterans at Barnwired in Sigourney. Nelson stated that veterans help build communities and that Home Base Iowa’s goal is to make the state a top choice for current and former service members, by getting local governments to offer incentives like gift baskets and free hotel stays to veterans in town for job interviews. He pointed out that the state of Iowa has a $5,000 homeownership grant and reduced interest rates for veterans. Nelson stated that there are just shy of 159,000 veterans in Iowa, 65,000 of whom are employed, and that they bring $1.6 billion into the state.
Sigourney Mayor and Sigourney American Legion Commander Jimmy Morlan asked about mental health for veterans, noting that a lot of veterans have problems functioning or molding into society, and asked if Nelson sees a lot of that. Nelson stated he did, calling veteran mental health issues a crisis. He stated that Home Base Iowa has a secluded room for veterans to get away from the noise, contact information for mental health counselors, and helps coordinate veterans with VA clinics. He stated that veterans need to be educated on what resources are available and often don’t know about what is.
A veteran in attendance asked about veterans having to leave for appointments, stating that employers may not want to hire veterans. Nelson stated that is unfortunately a factor with a lot of veterans. Morlan asked if Nelson knew any veterans who were looking for work in law enforcement, explaining that Sigourney was in need of police officers. Nelson stated he would let Morlan know, but that he didn’t see many veterans in law enforcement. He noted that he has a state trooper friend who has ongoing issues and is worried he’ll be fired if he says anything about them.
Another veteran in attendance asked about government cuts to Veterans Affairs. Nelson stated that the Iowa VA will receive cuts, but the amount hasn’t been published yet. The veteran stated he hopes there aren’t cuts, because his brother, who was wounded in Vietnam, relies on the full VA benefits he receives.
Holly Ellis of KCED stated that they are working on an incentive program right now, but that it is a challenge to put together. Nelson stated that that was understandable and that there was no rush. He stated that a lot of counties have funding issues but that Home Base Iowa still works with them. Ellis stated that they wanted to put together something meaningful, not just a gift basket. Nelson stated that a gift basket would probably not be the make or break and that employers are what makes the difference. He stated that different counties had offered incentives like free hunting and fishing, tax incentives for veterans, or tax incentives for companies that employ veterans. Nelson was asked what he recommended Keokuk County focus on. He stated the county should emphasize recreational activities like hunting and fishing and the employers in the area.
Nelson stated that a lot of veterans come back to Iowa because they grew up in the area and that a big thing was bringing them back after they leave the service. He stated that the county should focus on its standard of life. Morlan stated that he lived for 45 years in Omaha and that people here don’t realize what they have. He stated that rural Iowa is totally different, with people being more relaxed and helpful. Nelson stated it was hard for Home Base Iowa to sell to neighboring midwestern states, so they were focussing on marketing to congested metropolitan areas in New York, California and Florida.
