Ohio veterans director urges focus on workforce, behavioral health and nursing‑home readiness ahead of federal construction funds

General Ashenhurst, director of the Ohio Department of Veterans Services, told the House Committee on Veterans and Military Development that the agency is prioritizing veteran workforce development, behavioral‑health access and renovation of the state veterans homes as it prepares to receive federal construction matching funds.

The presentation, delivered to the committee during an invited testimony session, laid out recent and planned work across the department, including a workforce outreach program that visits active‑duty installations, behavioral‑health partnerships tied to the 988 veteran crisis line, and capital planning for major renovations at the Sandusky and Georgetown veterans homes. Ashenhurst said the department used a $65,000,000 state appropriation from the last biennium to prepare designs and site work intended to leverage federal VA construction matching funds.

Why it matters: Ohio has a large veteran population but a comparatively small number of veterans‑home beds; the department told lawmakers it needs to align state funding, state land and updated siting studies so federal matching dollars can be used quickly. Committee members pressed for clarity on budget lines, outreach and how the state can reduce barriers for veterans seeking services.

Ashenhurst described workforce outreach as a top priority. The department’s workforce team, supported by JobsOhio resources,…