State lawmakers recently enacted a law that will award six percent of state contracts to businesses owned by disabled military veterans.
One of those who may benefit from the new initiative is Dan MacDonald of Webster, who started a land surveying and environmental remediation company last year.
MacDonald served in the Marine Corps right after graduating from Churchville Chili High School in 1986. He says he hopes to win some state contracts so he can employ fellow veterans."It's my whole goal in this thing. It's not to fill my own pockets; it's to help - if you don't mind my using the term - my brothers and sisters who served, to support their families when they come home."
Paul Gebel, president of the Rochester Regional Veterans Business Council, says the initiative has the potential to help not only veterans business owners, but the local economy as well.
"It's definitely something that's going to have a felt impact in our local economy, which will stimulate business in terms of those types of contracts coming to the area. It will certainly be felt in the quality of life of those affected by the movement."
Gebel says 9 percent of businesses across the state are owned by veterans.
Service Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses that want to qualify for the state program require verification by the Veterans Administration.
