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About our events
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Outreach, Transition and Economic Development (OTED) is divided into three offices. The first office is Outreach, the second is Transition, and the third is Economic Development (ED). Each office has a slightly different service area, focus, and approach.
In 2018, OTED launched ED to provide disadvantaged Veterans and transitioning service members (TSMs), their spouses, family members, caregivers and survivors with events and programs that help them achieve economic success and total well-being.
Multiday events, known as Economic Development Initiatives (EDIs), aim to assist the Veteran community in understanding their VA benefits and establishing connections with career opportunities. All EDIs include a Town Hall, Stakeholder Rountables, a Claims Clinic and a Benefits Fair. Each event’s additional components are customized to the needs of the local Veteran community and may also incude a Hiring Fair, Career and Financial Workshops, a Spouse and Caregiver clinic and more.
Town Hall
Town halls are open forum events where key leaders present relevant Veteran benefits, services, and resource updates. Town halls are approximately 90 minutes long with 10 to 15-minute presentations by individual leaders from- VA, state offices, local Regional Offices, and other government agencies, followed by a question-and-answer session with the audience.
Benefits Fair
Benefits fairs help the Veteran and military community members find resources and connect them with the benefits and health care they have earned.
Stakeholder Roundtables
Stakeholder roundtables bring public and private partners together in a small-group, invitation-only setting to find solutions to specific challenges in the Veteran and military communities. Stakeholder roundtables help foster partnerships that join community leadership with Veteran resource programs to promote career development, education, training, entrepreneurship, and employment opportunities.
Stakeholder roundtables consist of 3 groups of 8-10 individuals. Each group is called a table and addresses one region-specific topic called a challenge statement. Stakeholders are hand-selected for their ability to make a significant impact within the scope of the challenge statement in their specific region.
Historically, topics have included how to bring resources, benefits, and solutions to various Veteran populations, such as the elderly, homeless, or minority Veterans. Roundtable topics address how to help specific populations overcome challenges in accessing VA benefits, health care, education, and financial stability.
Claims Clinics
Claims clinics provide tailored claims assistance to the Veteran community. During claims clinic appointments, each Veteran or transition service member receives one-on-one assistance from a VA claims representative. The private appointment enables them to learn more about the claims process, check their claim status, or receive insight into the next steps in filing a VA claim for service-connected conditions.
Hiring Fair
As many as 50 Veteran-friendly employers may attend the Hiring Fair, ready to assist job-seekers with resume reviews, interview tips, and specific information about their company’s culture and open roles.
Workshops
Workshops offer hands-on assistance, insight, and direct guidance on topics such as writing and updating resumes, networking, and interview strategies.
