The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Texas Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Plant Protection and Quarantine (APHIS PPQ) Field Operation Office earned the Government Entity Medium Employer of the Year Award from the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC). The award recognizes outstanding results in employing and recruiting veterans.
Among award requirements is that at least seven percent the work force be veteran. APHIS exceeded that by having 21% of it’s workforce, 50 of 239 employees, being veterans. Plus, in new hires over the past year, six of 50, or 12%, have been veterans.
In recruiting employees, APHIS PPQ in Texas has worked closely with the Texas Veterans Commission Veteran Employment Services and made outstanding efforts to seek, identify and select veterans. This has included:
- Coordinating with the local Workforce Solutions offices to post available vacancies with a 48 hour hold to give Texas Veterans a first look at these positions
- Hosting virtual hiring and career events for veterans and military spouses via Zoom
- Attending hiring events
- Cold calling veterans registered in WorkinTexas.com to identify interest for vacancies
“APHIS PPQ in Texas is always on the lookout to identify and select veterans to become part of the USDA in various capacities,” said Gerardo “Jerry” Garza, TVC Rural Veteran Career Advisor (RVCA) and Army veteran. “This helps make Texas a destination for veterans seeking career opportunities. Congratulations APHIS!”
The Veterans Employment Program is 99% funded through the federal grant, “Texas Jobs for Veterans State Grant Program” totaling $16,290,842.00. An additional 1% of the program is funded with state general revenue in the amount of $122,229.00.