New Center Brings Hundreds Of Jobs to Local Veterans - kcentv.com - KCEN HD - Waco, Temple, and Killeen

More than 400 new jobs are making their way to the city of Belton, and are geared specifically towards Fort Hood veterans.

The company, CGI teamed up with AT&T, and opened the doors to a new center where more than half of employees are military members or spouses.

The IT business is planning on hiring about 350 more employees over the next couple of years.

Only about 25 minutes from Fort Hood and with the annual unemployment rate for Texas veterans about 14-percent, Belton is the perfect location for the company.

This business is hoping soldiers looking to retire will head to their center for their next job.

Robert Walter was a military intelligence officer who served more than 21 years in the US Army.

"In 2008 I decided to retire and stay here in the local community. My wife is from this area and this is the area we wanted to stay in after I retired," said Walter.

And luckily for Walter, CGI was there to help.

The company, that recently opened a center in Belton is dedicated to helping veterans get jobs after they retire from the service, which is one of the main reasons they moved so close to Fort Hood.

"We knew that there were going to be draw downs coming and we wanted to take advantage of that workforce," said CGI Vice President Mark Eschle.

Helping former soldiers just like Walter, making it a win win situation for both the company and people looking to retire.

"As somebody on the corporate side now, by hiring veterans and giving them an opportunity to have this career we know that we're going to get a very disciplined, hard working, individual," said Walter.

"There's some great people coming out of the military and maybe they don't have all the exact training that we need but we're willing to provide that training," said Eschle.

The new center is expected to bring 61-million dollars to Belton within the first five years of operation.

"You just cant over emphasize the importance and our economy and our way of life," said Belton Mayor Jim Covington.

Which is good for the city, and people like Walter who want to raise their family right here in Central Texas.

"If they've retired from the military they can do a whole second career, or if they're just getting out of the military, it's an opportunity for them to start another career with a company that's continuing to grow and expand," said Walter.