CLIO — State Representative Pam Faris (D-Clio), a member of the House Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, is pleased to announce that the Genesee County Department of Veterans Services has been awarded a $15,000 grant by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA). The money is to be used to hire an additional permanent full-time accredited county veterans counselor.

“I am thrilled to see needed money go to Genesee County to help our veterans services,” Faris said. “I am hopeful that an additional counselor in the department will further assist veterans reintegrating into life here at home after they serve our country.”

The MVAA created the County Incentive Grant program last year, with $250,000 to be dispersed to fund new county departments of veterans affairs, hire additional accredited county veteran counselors, or upgrade or invest in new technology. So far, $100,000 has been given in one-time grant funding. Genesee County was one of the first counties to receive a grant under this program.

“I was proud to see this program become law last year as a legislator, and I am even prouder to see the deserving veterans in my district and the surrounding area as some of the first to benefit,” Faris said. “I look forward to the MVAA taking further action to positively impact veterans services across the state.”