CARIBOU - A $25,000 grant from the Tibor and Anna Doby Veteran Support Fund will open up additional educational opportunities for veterans in Aroostook and Washington counties.
This is the second consecutive year $25,000 has been awarded to Northern Maine Development Commission from the Maine Community Foundation's Doby Fund.
"The mission of that fund is to improve the lives of veterans and their families," said Ryan Pelletier, NMDC's director of economic and workforce development.
The initial workforce development project last year helped disabled veterans overcome barriers to employment. The new round of funding is designed to help veterans further their education by supplementing the Maine Department of Labor's Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP).
The VRAP program is for unemployed veterans aged 35 to 60 who want job training. The one drawback according to Pelletier is it only funds 12 months of educational assistance and some of the qualified applicants' desire further education.
"What we propose to do is work with veterans who qualify for VRAP - who are interested in obtaining a two year degree - the Doby Fund will assist them in getting that second year of education," Pelletier said.
Pelletier estimates the funds will serve 10 to 15 veterans in the Aroostook Washington region.
"We understand this funding won't be the save-all for everybody, but it will allow us to continue to do this type of work with our veteran population," Pelletier added. "What we hope to achieve is veterans can develop a roadmap of what is available to them for educational opportunities and if they are still short on funding with both VRAP and this program we will help them find other financial aid opportunities so they can meet their educational goals."
Additional information on the VRAP program can be obtained at the Maine CareerCenter.
Tibor and Anna Doby escaped the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, experiencing firsthand the devastating effects of war before being granted political asylum in the U.S. Over time the couple developed an interest in American soldiers who served in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and through their estate, they have provided support to Maine veterans and their families.
Maine Community Foundation grants cover the full range of nonprofit undertakings, with a special focus in the areas of education, community economic development, the environment and civic engagement.