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Committee approves application for Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency County Veterans Service Fund grant of $149,000
Summary
Oakland Countycommittee authorized submission of a FY26 County Veterans Service Fund grant application for $149,000 to support veteran transportation, outreach and benefits counseling; members noted the state grant pool was unchanged since 2018 and that allocations to counties fell from prior years.
The Oakland County Economic Development & Infrastructure Committee voted unanimously to approve applying for a Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency County Veterans Service Fund grant of $149,000 for fiscal year 2026.
Dom Holmes, director of economic development, told commissioners the county has received the grant in previous years and that the amount this year is substantially lower than past awards. Holmes said the grant will support veteran transportation services, food assistance cards and boxes, marketing to bring veterans into the office and counseling by veteran-benefits staff. "This hundred and $49,000 grant is important," Holmes said.
Garth Woodman, division manager for veteran services, and Tyrone Jordan, grant administrator, said the department will seek to supplement the reduced award through the county budget process and by pursuing philanthropic and business sponsors for continuing programs such as transportation. Woodman reported that fiscal 2024 awards to the county were markedly higher in recent years and attributed the reduction to a statewide allocation formula change and to a reported miscalculation and reduced carryover at the state level.
Commissioners asked for clarity on the state fund structure; staff said the County Veterans Service Trust Fund is funded at approximately $4.2 million annually, unchanged since about 2018, and that the formula provides a $50,000 base to each applying county with the remainder allocated by county veteran population. The department said Wayne County, which has the largest veterans population, did not apply to the fund this cycle, affecting allocation amounts for other counties.
Commissioner Weifert moved the application approval, Commissioner Taylor supported it, and the committee recorded a 7-0 vote in favor. The chair noted the application was submitted under a deadline exception and that the chair had signed the application pending committee consideration.
