CLAY COUNTY HAS A CLEAR VISION

TAKING CARE OF ITS VETERANS

Clay County’s Clear Focus

Clay’s VA Community Clinic is in Middleburg, Fl.

Still serving after their military service, Clay County Veterans are on a focused mission with renewed energy. The Veterans Council of Clay County is actively engaged in a purpose-driven strategic process to achieve their vision of Clay County being known for “taking care of its Veterans.”

“You have to go to Duval for that . . . seemed to be the answer to every question about Veteran resources in Clay County,” said Jesica Polvikoski, who retired to Clay County in 2019 after 32 years in the Florida National Guard. After her military career, Polvikoski immediately began volunteering, and then serving, on the county’s Veteran council, adding, “I met many Veterans and family members who, like me, had no idea how to access resources, or couldn’t identify if, or what, resources existed in Clay.” To steer their vision, the council completed a Veterans Needs Assessment in 2020 which fueled the development of a recently released strategic plan. The needs assessment, sponsored by the council and led by Polvikoski, was conducted over many months and included a county-wide Veteran survey, a SWOT analysis and statistical research. The process identified major goals to vitalize Veteran resources and engage key stakeholders within the community, region and state.

Third Largest Veteran Population.

While the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) anticipates the percentage of the U.S. population with military service experience will continue to decline over the next couple of decades, Clay, like several counties across The Liberty Coast, are experiencing a surge of Veterans and their families. A 2020 Stacker.Com study found that approximately 18 percent of Clay County’s 205,294 residents previously served in the nation’s military, making Clay the county with the third highest percent of residents that are Veterans of all 67 Florida counties. The Clay County Veteran Services website states that “more than 40,000 Veterans” call Clay home.

Retired FANG Major Jessica Polvikoski is Clay’s Veterans Council Treasurer.

Locally, the region’s nine military bases have steadily expanded in mission and personnel. Many Clay County residents serve and work on those installations and then choose to live within the county after their military service.

Additionally, the COVID pandemic population surge to the region continues. When Florida gained over 210,000 new residents between July 2020 and 2021, included among them are Veterans and their families. The regional Veteran Service Offices are reporting a steady and significant uptick in relocated Veterans checking into their offices for services.

Veterans Community Center. Clay’s Veterans Council is a council of representatives from the county’s many Veteran-supporting organizations. Based on the needs assessment and led by council president and retired Marine Ansil Lewis, their revised vision is clear, “The Council is unified in working, with support from Clay County leadership, to provide a centralized location for Veterans, families, and caregivers to increase knowledge regarding Veterans’ benefits and connection with community resources and information. A Veterans Community Center for Clay County can be the catalyst to achieve that and promote further camaraderie across our robust Veteran community”

In addition to their purposeful vision, Clay’s Veterans Council is addressing some of the identified needs, like collaborating with community resources to schedule a mobile dental event for poverty-level Veterans in 2023 for tooth extraction and fillings. They have launched an updated website and are also re-energizing its meetings and membership engagement with Veteran organizations and pro-Veteran residents and businesses.

Clay County Is All In For Its Vet-

erans. Clay County recently hired a second Veteran Service Officer (VSO). Army Veteran Cherie Korn has added her well-known Veteran advocacy to the already energized Veteran champion and Army Veteran Keith Brandon. Together, they assist Veterans in obtaining their earned benefits. Tramika Chatfield, also an Army Veteran, serves as the community liaison and connects Clay’s Veterans with community-based resources.

To make it even more convenient for Clay’s Veterans, the Veterans Service Office relocated in July to the same complex as the new Middleburg VA Medical Clinic and the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs Claims Office. This hub complex of Veteran resources in Clay is located at 400 College Dr.

Leadership By Example. Improving the lives of Veterans in Clay County has evolved into a county-wide, “all hands on deck” effort. Clay County’s pro-military Board of Commissioners is a strong partner in the county’s focus on “taking care of its Veterans.” Commissioner J.B. Renniger and County Manager, “Howie” Wannamaker, both former naval aviators and retired Navy Captains, are also engaged and influential in supporting Clay’s Veterans.

Numerous other former military leaders and pro-military citizens are committed to supporting the Veteran population in Clay County. The annual Clay County Chamber of Commerce’s very genuine Veterans Appreciation luncheon, inspired by pro-military attor-

Clay County’s Veteran Service Officer, Army Veteran, Keith Brandon. ney David A. King, is always sold out. Retired Admiral Jack Scorby, retired Marine and former Clay commissioner, Gaylord Hendry and many others are always contributing in some way.

There are many more pro-Veteran folks and services contributing to the Veterans Council of Clay County’s (VCCCF.Org) clear-eyed vision to take care of its Veterans. Scan the QR Codes to meet the county’s VSO, Keith Brandon and read “Be a Barnabas.”

Meet Keith Brandon