Montgomery County, which includes The Woodlands, will receive $361,000 in state funding for veterans services as part of a $6.3 million grant round the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) announced for the Southeast Texas and Gulf Coast region.
The money breaks down into two grants: $100,000 for financial assistance and $261,000 for a veterans treatment court. Twenty-seven organizations across the region will share the full $6.3 million, according to Woodlands Online.
TVC Director of Veteran Services Chip Osborne, a U.S. Army veteran, will present the grants at a public ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 27, at 10 a.m. at Honor Cafe, 103 N. Thompson St. in Conroe. The veteran-owned downtown Conroe restaurant will host each grant recipient as they describe how the funding serves local veterans. The event is free.
The grants are part of a statewide rollout. In May, TVC commissioners approved 190 grants totaling more than $40.8 million to 160 organizations across Texas, expected to serve more than 125,600 veterans, their dependents and surviving spouses.
Funding comes from the Fund for Veterans' Assistance, created by the Texas Legislature and supported primarily by Texas Lottery games designated for veteran support. Texans can also contribute when registering vehicles or purchasing hunting or fishing licenses. Since 2009, more than $400 million in FVA grant funding has been awarded through 1,790 grants statewide.
Other Southeast Texas recipients in this round include Easter Seals of Greater Houston ($450,000 for counseling and financial assistance), Harris County Veterans Services Office ($600,000 for financial assistance and mental health), Lone Star Legal Aid ($400,000 for pro bono legal services) and Houston Habitat for Humanity ($350,000 for housing modifications).
Gov. Greg Abbott announced parallel grant rounds for other regions in August: more than $7.7 million to North Texas organizations on Aug. 11 and more than $3.3 million to East Texas organizations on Aug. 6.
Veterans seeking assistance can search for local organizations through the TVC's Grant Services Directory online at tvc.texas.gov/directory/directory-category/grants.
Upcoming:
- Thursday, Aug. 27, 10 a.m. — TVC grant check presentation, Honor Cafe, 103 N. Thompson St., Conroe. Open to the public.
