Commissioners approve $18,288.98 North Carolina DMVA grant for county veterans

The Northampton County Board of Commissioners voted to accept a grant of $18,288.98 from the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to support services for county veterans.

The county’s Veterans Service Officer told the board the grant application was submitted in March and approved in mid-May; funds must be expended by July 31 and reported on by Aug. 1. The VSO said grant funds cannot supplant existing county budgeted services but can be used to supplement veteran services, including equipment, training and outreach.

Veterans Service Officer (unnamed): “You could request as a county VSO up to 20,000. Seldom being called an underachiever, I decided to go for 20,000, and we were awarded $18,288.98.”

The VSO said the county estimates roughly 1,500–1,600 county residents are veterans and that homelessness among veterans remains an issue that is addressed through third-party organizations and informal coordination. The VSO outlined planned uses including upgraded printers, modest office improvements after recent relocation of the office, training and outreach to increase public awareness of veterans’ services.

A board member moved to accept the grant and a second was recorded. The board then voted in favor; a roll-call name recorded in the transcript was Commissioner Brian X. Taylor saying “Aye,” and the chair announced no oppositions and declared the motion carried.

The chair will need to provide a notarized signature on final grant documents to complete the submission process and the county was told funds should be issued within one to two weeks.

The board’s acceptance obligates the county to expend the award by July 31 and report on uses to the DMVA by Aug. 1.