Media Contact:
Steve McCarthy
952-237-4618
steven.mccarthy@state.mn.us

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

• Gaits of Hope (Rice): $100,000
• Ironwood Springs (Stewartville): $50,000
• Support the Troops, MN (Oak Grove): $100,000
• YMCA of the North (Minneapolis): $100,000

The MDVA SOT grant program offers a competitive 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 these diverse grant recipients for their commitment to serving Minnesota Veterans in different ways,” said MDVA Commissioner Brad Lindsay. “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.”

• Gaits of Hope is receiving a $100,000 grant to provide individual and group equine therapy for Veterans and their family members.
• Ironwood Springs will use their $50,000 grant to aid in their mission of Veteran support by providing free, family-based day and overnight retreats for military families.
• Support the Troops, MN grant to provide rapid response to Veterans encountering financial hardships. Their program will prevent evictions, avoid utility shutoffs and help with car repairs.
• YMCA of the North will engage veterans in YMCA health, wellness and family programs that promote mental and physical health (whole-person wellbeing), access to critical resources and other community connections.

This SOT grant cycle began with applications submitted in January 2025. These four organizations now have executed grant agreements.

About the SOT License Plate Program:

Deployments and military service can put a strain on families, finances and health. Purchasing a SOT license plate helps Minnesota military, Veterans and families. Just a few of the organizations that SOT funds have helped include:

• Minnesota Military Radio Program – weekly broadcast to inform the military and Veteran community.
• Believet Canine Service Partners – provides service dogs to Veterans living with post-traumatic stress disorder, brain injury and other combat-related disabilities or injuries.
• Conservation Corps Minnesota and Iowa – service-learning experience that supports Veterans as they transition out of the military by assisting them in developing transferrable workforce skills that can lead to a career in the natural resources field.
• LegalCorps – “Ventures for Veterans” provides free, transactional business and patent law services.
• Blue Star Mothers – grant provides three nutritious meals monthly for Veterans and family members residing as guests at the Fisher House on the Minneapolis VA campus.
• The Landing – purchased a transit van ensuring that Veterans experiencing homelessness have ready transit to all appointments ranging from housing, jobs and health services.
• Prairie Five Community Action Council, Inc. – will provide up to 300 round-trip rides to Veterans requesting transportation services throughout the state.

To purchase SOT plates, visit your local DMV office. SOT plates may also be available from auto dealerships. Be sure to ask about SOT plates when you purchase your next vehicle.

To receive a notice when the next MDVA SOT grant cycle opens, or to learn more about how to apply for a grant, visit the /mdva/resources/federalresources/grants/index.jspMDVA grants page.

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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 eight 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.