The Texas Veterans Commission presented $3.45 million in grants to 16 organizations that serve South Texas veterans in the Rio Grande Valley and Corpus Christi areas.
The grants, which came from the commission’s Fund for Veterans’ Assistance, were presented by TVC Chairwoman and Navy veteran Laura Koerner during a ceremony at the Hidalgo County Commissioners Court in Edinburg on Friday morning.
Some of the checks that were presented include $50,000 to South Texas Afghanistan Iraq Veterans Association (STAIVA), $150,000 to Zapata County, $200,000 to Cameron County, $300,000 to Tropical Texas Behavioral Health, $300,000 to Willacy County Veterans Office, $300,000 to Hidalgo County Veterans Office, and $300,000 to Hidalgo County Community Service Agency, among others.
According to a news release, the grants will help provide funding for services to more than 3,000 South Texas veterans, their spouses and dependents.
The grants were approved by TVC commissioners in May as part of a larger grant that totals nearly $31.5 million. That money will provide 139 grants to over 120 organizations that serve more than 22,000 veterans throughout the state.
Since 2009, the commission has awarded more than $234 million in funding to an estimated 400,000 Texas veterans and their families.
“The grants support a wide range of services from emergency financial assistance to transportation, legal services to family support services and home modification to rental and mortgage assistance,” the news release said. “The TVC awards grants in five categories: General Assistance, Housing for Texas Heroes, Veterans Mental Health Grants, Veterans Treatment Courts and Veteran County Service Officers.”
Funding for the grants is largely generated through the Texas Lottery Commission’s games designated for veteran support, as well as individual donations through drivers’ licenses, licenses to carry a handgun, outdoor recreation licenses for hunting and fishing, and vehicle registrations.
Veterans in need of assistance can find the organizations providing help in their area and how to contact them by going online to https://www.tvc.texas.gov/grants/assistance/.
