REDMOND, OR -- Oregon’s Department of Veterans Affairs will bring its resource fair to Central Oregon, this weekend. Tyler Francke, with ODVA, says it’s similar to other local resource fairs for vets, but on a much larger scale. He tells KBND News the goal is, "To bring everyone under one roof. If you’re looking to just get connected or see what’s available, rather than trying to navigate 20 or 30 websites or calling a bunch of numbers, you can just come to this one event and see the full range of what you might be interested in and what you might qualify for."

The Veteran Benefit Expo features more than 75 state and federal service providers, nonprofit agencies, employers and other local partners. "There are resources and programs, and really the full range of benefits for veterans and their families; whether they are looking to take their next steps in higher education or looking for long term care, more toward the other end of their life. We have stuff for job seekers, folks that are maybe looking to start their own business."

This is the agency’s third resource fair, but the first in Central Oregon, "The first two were in Salem and Portland, respectively," says Francke. "We are adding things to this expo we haven’t done in the past. So, the first two years, it was really just the resource fair. This year, we’ve got some awesome live entertainment coming out; we have activities and a kids’ fair with inflatables. We’re going to have a food tent, this year; and it’s the first year we’re hosting it on a Saturday."

The resource fair takes place Saturday at the Deschutes County Expo Center in Redmond.