Urgent alert from:
Michael W. Roof, CVA
Director, Grand Traverse County Veterans’ Affairs
Urgent Concerns Over CVSF Grant Reductions and Elimination of Veteran Outreach Funding
As President of the Michigan Association of County Veteran Counselors (MACVC), I am writing to express our deep concern regarding the recent changes to the County Veteran Service Fund (CVSF) Grant, particularly the elimination of allowable expenditures related to veteran outreach.
For years, outreach programs have served as a vital connection between veterans and the essential services they have earned—ranging from healthcare and housing assistance to mental health support and benefits navigation. The recent decision by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) to restrict allowable expenses under the CVSF Grant to only salaries, onboarding, office rental, and IT/equipment undermines the very purpose of this funding.
This change, introduced quietly through boilerplate language in the FY26 budget, drastically reduces counties’ ability to reach veterans. In Grand Traverse County alone, the change represents a $62,000 cut. In Leelanau County, the impact is nearly $54,000. These cuts are even more severe in larger counties that rely on these funds for veteran-focused outreach, benefit fairs, advertising, and direct financial assistance.
To add further strain, earlier this year the MVAA “clawed back” nearly $3.8 million from counties under the pretense of a grant “recalculation.” This unexpected move forced counties to cancel critical contracts for outreach and support services, jeopardizing the stability of programs that veterans depend on.
We strongly urge immediate attention to the following:
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