Governor Abbott Announces Over $1.4 Million In Grants To East Texas Veteran Service Organizations
Governor Greg Abbott today announced eight Fund for Veterans’ Assistance (FVA) grants totaling more than $1.4 million were awarded to eight organizations in East Texas as part of the Texas Veterans Commission’s (TVC) Grants Across Texas presentations. Presented by TVC today, the funding will provide services to more than 690 veterans and their families across 38 counties.
"Texas will always stand with the brave men and women who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today," said Governor Abbott. "These Fund for Veterans' Assistance grants will provide financial support and other crucial services to veterans and their families in East Texas. Texas is home to more veterans than any other state, and we will continue to support them to help ensure our nation's heroes prosper for generations to come."
“The Pineywoods of Texas is home to many veterans who have served our country and now call East Texas their home,” said TVC Commissioner and Marine veteran Chuck Wright. “These grant awards will improve the lives of veterans in the area with important services, such as home modifications in the Housing for Texas Heroes program to transportation programs to help veterans get to their appointments and other necessities.”
Commissioner Wright presented the grants at Habitat for Humanity of Smith County in Tyler. This is the sixth stop of Grants Across Texas. The grant presentations will continue through the second week of October with a total of 10 stops.
The FVA grant recipients and their services include:
- Cass County: a $300,000 grant for financial assistance
- Deep East Texas Council of Governments and Economic Development District: a $70,000 grant for financial assistance
- Habitat for Humanity of Smith County: a $250,000 grant for home modifications
- Northeast Texas Habitat for Humanity: a $230,000 grant for home modifications
- RISE-Resource Information Support and Empowerment: a $145,000 grant for transportation programs and services
- Sabine Valley Regional MHMR Center: a $145,000 grant for peer support services
- The Salvation Army – Lufkin: a $100,000 grant for financial assistance
- Trinity County: a $180,000 grant for financial assistance
In May, the Governor announced 181 grants totaling over $44 million to 161 organizations across Texas. It is projected to provide direct services to more than 41,000 veterans, their dependents, and surviving spouses.
Since 2009 through the current 2024-2025 grant cycle, more than $313 million in grant funding has been awarded through 1,400 FVA grants.
The grants support a wide range of services from emergency financial assistance to transportation, legal services to family support services, and home modification to rental and mortgage assistance. The TVC awards grants in five categories: General Assistance, Housing for Texas Heroes, Veterans Mental Health Grants, Veterans Treatment Courts, and Veteran County Service Officers.
Funding for these grants is generated primarily by the Texas Lottery Commission’s games designated for veteran support. Other sources of funding for the grants come from individual donation options on drivers’ licenses, licenses to carry a handgun, outdoor recreation licenses for hunting and fishing, and vehicle registrations.
Texas veterans in need of assistance can find the organizations providing help in their area and how to contact them at https://tvc.texas.gov/fund.