Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Veteran Military Affairs Updates topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City’s veteran and military affairs office reports defense grant, honor flight details and new programs after ADC expo
Summary
City staff told the VAC on April 17 that El Paso is taking a lead role in defense-community initiatives, reported a pending Department of Defense land-use grant of about $400,000, previewed a K9s for Warriors cohort, and announced Honor Flight arrival and Coffee with Veterans schedules.
Luther (Division of Veteran and Military Affairs) and Paul Albright updated the Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on April 17 about recent defense-community work, city events and new programs meant to support veterans and military families.
Highlights reported to the committee included a pending Department of Defense grant to fund a land-use study outside the airport, a K9s for Warriors cohort coming to the region, Honor Flight dates, and a range of outreach events such as Coffee with Veterans and Community Salutes.
Why it matters: The items combine economic-development and direct-service work that affect large numbers of veterans and service providers. The defense grant would fund engineering/land-use study work that the city said will help coordinate Fort Bliss land and FAA-owned airport land for potential joint projects. The K9s for Warriors initiative would bring trained service dogs to area veterans at no cost, and Honor Flight events recognize older veterans’ service with escorted trips to Washington, D.C.
Key items reported
- Defense grant and land-use study: Paul Albright said City Council recently approved a defense grant application totaling “almost over $400,000” to fund a land-use study outside the airport that would coordinate FAA, Fort Bliss and city land uses to enable projects such as a joint police and fire academy. The city said the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation is reviewing the grant application.
- American Defense Communities (ADC) expo and leadership: Staff attended the ADC annual expo, and Paul and Luther said El Paso is being recognized for several initiatives, including a bridge program that provides unpaid internships to transitional service members, veterans, spouses and dependents.
- K9s for Warriors and service-dog training: Luther said a K9s for Warriors cohort will be scheduled in the coming months to bring trained service dogs—rescued dogs trained and matched to veterans—to local veterans; the program was described as free of charge for eligible veterans and uses partnering organizations for training and placement.
- Rio Grande Honor Flight: The office provided departure/arrival information and asked for community support. Luther said the Honor Flight arrival is April 26 at 5:30 p.m. at El Paso International Airport and asked committee members to attend either departures or arrivals to honor veterans. (Committee members also referenced departures on earlier dates in the meeting transcript; the April 26 arrival time is the city’s stated arrival notice.)
- Outreach events: The office reported an ongoing Coffee with Veterans program (first two Thursdays each month, 8:30–10:30 a.m.), a Community Salutes event that drew about 700 attendees and more than 50 future enlistees, and a Borderplex Service Provider Summit planned for September to synchronize service providers ahead of a March expo.
- Expo and claims activity: Staff said the March expo drew about 2,000 attendees and on-site staff assisted with more than 100 claims filings.
Ending
Staff asked VAC members to help spread word-of-mouth about events and to attend Honor Flight and Coffee with Veterans activities when possible; the office said more program specifics would be distributed by email.
