HARRISBURG – The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) has selected 12 Pennsylvania County Directors of Veterans Affairs Offices to receive $99,840 in grants from the Pennsylvania Veterans’ Trust Fund (VTF). Additionally, the DMVA has selected Veteran Community Initiative, Inc. to receive a $41,000 grant to be its co-sponsor for the first Veterans Appreciation Day Symposium.
“This is the second year that grants from the Veterans’ Trust Fund have been awarded, and Pennsylvania’s veterans and their families are truly the fortunate beneficiaries,” said Brig. Gen. Jerry Beck Jr., deputy adjutant general for veterans affairs.
“The Veterans’ Trust Fund has grown significantly thanks to generous Pennsylvanians who have voluntarily made a $3 donation when applying for or renewing their driver’s license or photo ID and/or renewing a motor vehicle registration, as well as proceeds from the sale of the Honoring our Veterans license plate.”
DMVA received 13 County Director of Veterans Affairs grant applications totaling$204,454.00. Grant applicants slated to receive funding identified $61,603 in matching funds to be used in conjunction with their grant request. Combined with the VTF grant funding, this will result in veterans initiatives totaling $161,603 over a period of up to 24 months.
Grants of up to $100,000 were available for new, innovative and expanded programs operated by County Directors of Veterans Affairs or the Pennsylvania Association of County Directors of Veterans Affairs. The three areas of emphasis for these entities were health care enrollment, veteran outreach initiatives and veterans’ court initiatives within Pennsylvania at the community, county, regional or statewide level. Grants were awarded to:
- Cambria County Department of Veterans Affairs: $12,000 to expand existing outreach services for veterans
- Centre County Department of Veterans Affairs: $3,500 to expand existing outreach services for veterans
- Fayette County Department of Veterans Affairs: $12,000 to expand transportation services for veterans in the Pittsburgh area
- Forest County Department of Veterans Affairs: $1,035 to expand existing outreach services for veterans
- Franklin County Department of Veterans Affairs: $12,000 to initiate several outreach programs to assist veterans
- Jefferson County Department of Veterans Affairs: $12,000 to purchase equipment that will enable them to electronically store valuable veteran documents
- Juniata/Mifflin (joint county application) Department of Veterans Affairs: $12,000to create a Healthy PA Veterans Affairs Program
- Lehigh County Department of Veterans Affairs: $2,750 to expand existing outreach services for veterans
- Lycoming County Department of Veterans Affairs: $2,155 to expand existing outreach services for veterans
- Montgomery County Department of Veterans Affairs: $12,000 to increase transportation services for veterans
- Perry County Department of Veterans Affairs: $6,000 to expand existing outreach services for veterans
- Westmoreland County Department of Veterans Affairs: $12,400 to expand their existing outreach services for veterans
A grant of up to $50,000 was available to statewide charitable organizations having 501(c)(3) non-profit status and a mission to serve veterans to co-sponsor a Veterans Appreciation Day Symposium with the DMVA. The grant was awarded to Veteran Community Initiative, Inc.
Veteran Community Initiative, Inc. will utilize the VTF grant to co-sponsor the first annual Veterans Appreciation Day Symposium with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. The event will be held at Fort Indiantown Gap on Saturday, October 10, 2015. This one-day event is designed to provide veterans, service members and their families with information on a wide range of benefits and services that are available to them. These include benefits briefings, program information, educational resources, employment resources and opportunities, family counseling and many other veteran-related services. Pennsylvania veterans from any branch of the armed services and their family members are encouraged and welcome to attend this Veterans Appreciation Day.
“By awarding grants from the Veterans’ Trust Fund, DMVA is able to fund many worthwhile programs that assist and support Pennsylvania’s nearly one million veterans and their families,” Beck added. “Providing programs and services that benefit veterans is our common denominator.”
All grants are contingent upon the completion of a fully executed grant agreement.
An announcement from DMVA regarding awards to 501(c)3 organizations who applied for VTF grants to non-profits is expected in late March.
The VTF was established in 2012 and the PA Department of Military and Veterans Affairs is authorized to solicit and accept donations to the VTF on behalf of the commonwealth. Tax-deductible donations to the VTF can be made to: PA Veterans’ Trust Fund, Bldg. 0-47 Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA 17003.
To learn more about the VTF, visit www.vtf.state.pa.us or follow DMVA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/padmva.
