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Committee votes to seek state funding for veterans' outdoor recreational therapy programs
Summary
Allegany County will apply for a NYS Department of Veterans Services Outdoor Recreational Therapy grant to fund hands-on therapeutic and agricultural training for veterans; the committee approved forwarding the application to Ways and Means.
The Allegany County Personnel Committee on July 1 approved a request from Director of Veterans’ Service Agency Michael Middaugh to apply for the NYS Department of Veterans Services Outdoor Recreational Therapy Grant for the period April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027. The committee voted to refer the application to Ways and Means following a motion by Legislator Ricketts-Swales, seconded by Legislator Havey.
Middaugh told the committee the grant would underwrite classroom and hands-on learning opportunities in areas including backyard gardening, poultry raising, beekeeping, mushroom cultivation and online coursework such as Cornell University Small Farms Farm Ops training. Legislator Dwight "Mike" Healy asked whether the program is income-based; Middaugh responded that eligibility is open to veterans with age-related or physical limitations regardless of service-related disability.
Committee members approved the authorization to apply and referred the request for budget review; no award was voted on at the Personnel Committee meeting.
