St. Paul, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) announced today the recipients of the competitive Support Our Troops (SOT) license plate fund grant program.

• Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe: $93,767
• LegalCorps: $70,000
• American Heroes Outdoors: $60,000
• Prairie Five Community Action Council, Inc.: $80,000
• Mandatory Fun Outdoors: $30,000
• Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa: $75,000

The MDVA SOT grant program offers a competitive grant process which allows organizations to apply for funding. These grants, ranging from $1,000 to $100,000, are focused on supporting and improving the lives of Veterans and their families.

“Congratulations to our diverse group of grant recipients for their commitment to serving Minnesota Veterans in many different ways,” said MDVA Commissioner Larry Herke. “I also thank those Minnesotans who purchase SOT license plates. Without support from the thousands who are ‘driving home their support’ every day, these grants would not be possible.”

/mdva/assets/llboflag_tcm1066-528809.jpg
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe (LLBO) Homeless Veteran Financial Assistance Program is receiving a $93,767 grant to provide financial assistance to at least 50 eligible participants living on the Leech Lake Tribal Reservation.

/mdva/assets/LegalCorpsLogo_transp_tcm1066-528812.png
LegalCorps “Ventures 4 Veterans” Program is receiving a $70,000 grant to provide free transactional business and patent law services to increase economic success to Veterans throughout Minnesota. LegalCorps programs will include workshops, brief advice clinics, and full representation by LegalCorps pro bono attorneys.

/mdva/assets/american-heroes-outdoors_tcm1066-528810.png
American Heroes Outdoors “Support Our Troops” Program is receiving a $60,000 grant to provide therapeutic outdoor adventures and activities to 200 Minnesota Veterans.

/mdva/assets/prairie-five_tcm1066-528814.jpg
Prairie Five Community Action Council, Inc. “Support Our Troops” Program is receiving an $80,000 grant to purchase a wheelchair-accessible van and provide transportation to Minnesota Veterans in the five-county region of Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Swift and Yellow Medicine.

/mdva/assets/mandatory-fun-outdoors_tcm1066-528813.jpg
Mandatory Fun Outdoors “Ice Castle” project is receiving a $30,000 grant to purchase a used recreational vehicle (“fish house”) to serve as a mobile office, provide safe/secure storage to transport and store equipment, and shelter for Veterans and their families attending MFO events.

/mdva/assets/conservation-corps_tcm1066-528811.jpg Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa “Veterans Service Corps" Program is receiving a $75,000 grant providing a service-learning experience that will support up to 36 Minnesota Veterans and their spouses as they transition out of the military by assisting them in developing transferable workforce skills that can lead to careers in the natural resources field.

About the SOT License Plate Program
Deployments and military service can put a strain on families, finances and health. Purchasing a Support our Troops License plate helps Minnesota military, Veterans and families in the following ways:

• Grants through Support Our Troops program
• Benefits the CORE program, which provides family counseling, with specialty services available for children; financial counseling, debt management and mental health counseling
• Emergency financial assistance
• Helping homeless Veterans secure shelter and access to benefits
• Outreach to diverse communities across Minnesota, helping provide Veterans with access to earned benefits
• Community seminars on health conditions associated with military service

To purchase SOT plates, visit your local DMV office.

To receive a notice when the next grant cycle opens, or to learn more about how to apply for an SOT grant, visit the MDVA grants page.

###

About MDVA
The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) is a cabinet-level state agency dedicated to serving Minnesota Veterans and their families. In addition to overseeing the five State Veterans Homes, MDVA helps eligible Veterans and families secure state and federal benefits and provides programs and services relating to higher education, benefits, burial, claims, outreach and Veterans employment. Veterans and their families are encouraged to visit www.MinnesotaVeteran.org or call 1-(888)-LinkVet for more information about benefits.