Lorain County proclaims November 'Green Light for Veterans'; director details Honor Fund, funding and services

The Lorain County Board of Commissioners read a proclamation Nov. 4 declaring November as "Green Light for Veterans" and encouraging residents and public buildings to display green lights from Nov. 4–11 to honor those transitioning from military service.

Jacob, executive director of Lorain County Veterans Services, thanked commissioners for support and described the department's funding structure and outreach, noting that the office receives a guaranteed inside millage under the Ohio Revised Code and has used those dollars to support local posts and memorials. He said the department has reserved $300,000 each year to help veterans posts with capital needs they otherwise cannot fund.

"That allows them to have a better post, which then welcomes people in, which allows them to spend money, which allows putting money back into the community," Jacob said of the Honor Fund. He said the Veterans Service Commission returned an average of about $1.5 million annually in unspent funds in earlier years but has since reduced that amount and increased federal dollars directed to county veterans.

Jacob described the department's relationship with the Board of Commissioners and cited a statutory funding mechanism; he also said that in recent years the county has brought in more federal VA compensation and pension benefits than in the past, rising from about $68 million to roughly $101 million annually. Commissioners thanked him for the presentation and accepted honor-fund materials for further consideration.

No formal vote to change funding was recorded at the meeting; the proclamation and remarks were entered on the record.