The Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corporation announced today a proclamation of partnership with the U.S. Army Reserve Command’s Private Public Partnership Office. 

The partnership is the first of its kind in the country for an economic development organization. 

Robert Van Geons, the president and CEO of FCEDC, and Alecia Grady, director of P3O, signed the proclamation on June 16. 

The proclamation says that the FCEDC “will assist soldiers and families in overcoming barriers to obtain meaningful employment or education opportunities to support mission readiness goals, enhance their financial stability, and create connections with the community.”

“I can’t think of a more fitting partnership,” Van Geons said. “This will enable us to continue to build, bridge, and create an ongoing collaborative conversation here. I think we can do incredible things together, positively impacting the lives of our Reservists and their families.”

P3O’s mission is to make sure that Army Reserve soldiers thrive in their civilian careers. Over “87 percent of Reservists integrate military service with civilian careers, providing the Army with professional skills, education, and expertise acquired in the private sector. But many Reservists are either unemployed or under-employed,” the press release said. 

Although many programs are in place to help veterans find jobs, P3O seeks to help Reservists find employment. “For us, it’s important that we are shifting the narrative to the fact that we have currently serving soldiers who need jobs,” Grady said. “How do we help facilitate that other than these great partnerships?”

Rob Patton serves as the executive vice president of FCEDC. He also is a retired Army colonel. 

“This is a big day for all of us,” Patton said. “We’re very honored to be a part of this, but also, I’m humbled to know that we are the first EDO to be an official partner with the Army Reserves. Some of the unsung heroes in the United States military are the Reservists. That is an extremely tough job—balancing family life, personal life, work-life, and then that other thing called the Army.”