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VOL. 4/ISSUE 3
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015
Thanks for your service Veterans Florida rolls out grants Patrick McCallister FOR VETERAN VOICE
pmccallister@veteranvoiceweekly.com
Veterans Florida is taking grant applications from businesses hiring veterans, and at press time about to launch another program to help veterans start businesses. The Florida Legislature created Veterans Florida during its 2014 session to attract more veterans to move to or stay in Florida when they discharge from the military. Its first organizational meeting was in late October last year. “It’s been very busy,” Bobby Carbonell, executive director, said. “We have a small staff, but we’ve been very engaged at getting our statutory programs up and running. But, we’re looking ahead at what the veterans’ needs are.” The business grant program has $2 million. Businesses can get up to 50 percent of in-house or external training for new-hire veterans paid for through it, to a maximum of $8,000 a person and $200,000 a business. “These are grants intended for businesses who hire new veterans and need to train them on specific skills,” Carbonell said. Carbonell said that Veterans Florida has grant applications for businesses at its web site: www. veteransflorida.org/employers. The grants come through the Florida Veterans Employment and Training Services, FL VETS. Businesses on the Florida Targeted Industries List will get top priority for the grants for the first 90 days. For example, biomass and biofuel processing is on the list, as is shipbuilding and repair. “When (businesses) train those veterans, we’ll reimburse them.” Carbonell said. Additionally, at press time Veterans Florida is
See GRANT page 6
Mitch Kloorfain/chief photographer Vietnam veteran Tyrone Vance rolled up to shake hands with Doug Smith, Martin County Commissioner during the annual Veterans Day parade through Stuart Wednesday, Nov. 11. See more parade photos on page 6.
1st city-run Veterans Resource Center opens in Palm Bay Mary Kemper STAFF WRITER
mkemper@veteranvoiceweekly.com
“It took a lot of hard work on a lot of people’s part,” Palm Bay Mayor William Capote said Nov. 10 at a dedication ceremony for the newly opened Veterans Resource Center at City Hall. “I’d love to take credit for it, but I can’t,” he added. An appreciative crowd of more than 100 people — and one drone — showed up to help celebrate the opening of the center, which will offer basic assistance to veterans in need of everything from housing to information. It is the first city to operate such a center — up till now, they’ve been county-run. The new director, Don Overton, has many years of experience helping veterans with all kinds of issues. “I want anyone who needs anything not to hesitate to call or come by,” he said. American Legion Post 117 provided the
Staff photo by Mary Kemper Members of American Legion Post 117, Palm Bay, formed an Honor Guard at a dedication ceremony Nov. 10 for city’s new Veterans Resource Center. Honor Guard, which included a gun salute. They stood guard beside the city’s Homes For Warriors truck, a project co-sponsored by the Space Coast Paratroopers Associ-
See PALM BAY page 5