Governor Greg Abbott awarded more than $5.8 million in Funds for Veterans’ Assistance grants to 21 organizations serving South Texas veterans and their families at a presentation ceremony, his office said in a Sept. 15 news release.
The grants, administered by the Texas Veterans Commission, will expand access to services for an estimated 2,827 veterans, according to the release. The awards cover practical needs that often determine whether a veteran stays housed and employed after leaving the service.
“Texas ranks number one in America when it comes to veteran services, and those who answer the nation’s call deserve the very best the state has to offer,” Abbott said. “These grants will expand access to critical services for thousands of veterans and their families, including meals, housing, job training, financial assistance, and a whole lot more.”
Texas Veterans Commission Executive Director Thomas Palladino said the awards let the state return the favor to those who served. “Our veterans and their families have done a lot for our country and our state, and this is a way the state can pay them back,” Palladino said. “These organizations provide a network of resources out there to meet our veterans’ needs.”
The release said recipients include Bee County, which received $50,000 for financial assistance; Cameron County, $400,000 for financial assistance; the city of Corpus Christi, $300,000 for food and meal services; the city of Harlingen, $275,000 for Housing for Texas Heroes and $200,000 for financial assistance; and the city of Laredo. The event was part of the commission’s Grants Across Texas Tour, which highlights organizations putting the grant funding to work.
During his remarks, Abbott recognized the sacrifice of American service members and said that last session he eliminated bureaucratic barriers to help more organizations provide meals, housing, job training, financial assistance and other services to Texas veterans. He was joined at the ceremony by Harlingen Mayor Norma Sepulveda, Palladino, Deputy Executive Director Shawn Deabay, grant recipients, veterans and local leaders.
The South Texas awards are part of a larger round. In May, commissioners approved 190 grants totaling more than $40.8 million to 160 organizations across Texas, which the agency said are anticipated to provide direct services to more than 125,000 veterans, dependents and surviving spouses statewide.