More than $1 Million Awarded in Highly Rural Transportation Grants

TEXAS –The Texas Veterans Commission has been named as one of the recipients of a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Highly Rural Transportation Grant, which will provide more than $1 million to 22 counties throughout Texas to benefit approximately 2,500 Veterans.

Through the grant, Veterans who live in highly rural areas can receive transportation benefits for Veteran-related health care concerns. Many Veterans who live in those areas, defined as having less than seven persons per square mile, may not have VA medical facilities or non-VA appointed facilities nearby and require transportation assistance to and from appointments.

“The award of these grants provides us the opportunity to continue our mission to ensure our Veterans are receiving the care they deserve,” said Thomas Palladino, Executive Director of the Texas Veterans Commission. “Without adequate transportation to necessary health care appointments, these Veterans could end up missing appointments and these funds will help support our growing Veteran population in rural Texas.”

The Texas Veterans Commission will provide the grant money to the 22 counties which will then use the funds to purchase a vehicle up to $50,000 and be responsible for staffing and transportation plans that will assist Veterans.

The counties that will receive grant funds are:

• Briscoe
• Hansford
• Oldham
• Cochran
• Hartley
• Presidio
• Coke
• Jim Hogg
• Roberts
• Collingsworth
• Kent
• Shackelford
• Crockett
• Knox
• Sutton
• Dallam
• Lipscomb
• Wheeler
• Dickens
• McMullen
• Fisher
• Motley

Veterans in need of transportation should contact the office of their local county judge for additional information on transportation requests. For more information please visit the Texas Veterans Commission website http://www.tvc.texas.gov.