When Sgt. Alec Haggerty of Killeen, Texas saw a line of veterans standing outside a military staffing agency, waiting their turn to apply for a job, he knew he had to do something to help. So he started EcoGrunt Home Improvements, a green construction and renovation business that currently employs five active-duty and retired military servicemen. It seemed a natural venture for Haggerty, who comes from a family long involved in both the military and construction.
EcoGrunt specializes in both commercial and residential spaces, offering a range of services from small handyman repairs to larger landscaping projects such as deck and rock wall additions. Starting a company was just the beginning for Haggerty, who recently launched a GoFundMe campaign with the goal of raising money for wounded veterans who need to remodel their homes because of injuries. Haggerty is pledging to match every dollar donated with donated services through his construction company. “I know I can’t help everyone, but maybe if I do this it will start a chain reaction,” Haggerty told Valerie L. Valdez of Killeen Daily News.