By Tim Peterson, President, VVSC Board of Directors
Annually, for every dollar Ravalli County residents invest through the mill levy to support the Valley Veterans Service Center, the county’s economy sees about at $450 return on its investment. In 2014 veterans brought about $38 million into Ravalli County through VA benefits. That same year the mill levy provided about $85,000 in support to the Valley Veterans Service Center (VVSC), most of which remained in the county in the form of wages, rent, utilities and other operating expenses.
The mission of the VVSC is to provide Ravalli County veterans and their family members assistance with navigating the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as well as local resources. Since becoming part of the National Association of County Veteran Service Officers (NACVSO), the staff has adopted the goal of being nationally recognized for effectively and proactively meeting the needs of Ravalli County veterans and their families by being the leader of community based veterans’ services. Through an agreement signed by the VVSC Board of Directors and the Ravalli County Commissioners, Ravalli County is the only county in the State of Montana to provide nationally certified County Veteran Service Officers through NACVSO, the largest veteran service organization in the country.
The Ravalli County Veteran Service Officers, Mike Warner and Dan Griffin, have been diligent about realizing their vision of the future of community-based service to veterans. The office is on the cutting edge of technology using the digital-to-digital model to streamline the application process from intake to approval, largely due to the agreement with the county. Mike and Dan have also partnered with the Trapper Creek Job Corps and Hamilton High School to provide opportunities for young adults to learn valuable job skills while providing no-cost administrative services to the office. The office also provides space for the Missoula Vet Center to meet with veterans individually and in groups three days a week.
The Board of Directors of the VVSC appreciates the residents of Ravalli County for their continued support. Stop by the office at 217 N 3rd Street, Suite L in Hamilton and say hi and have a cup of coffee.