Nassau Launching Grant Program For Veterans' Halls

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — Nassau County is creating a program to provide grants for veterans’ halls and facilities to help them financially recover from the COVID pandemic. The grant funds will come from federal American Rescue and Recovery Act (ARPA) monies.

The program is intended to help veterans’ halls and facilities, which sustained financial losses as they were not able to rent the facilities for catered events during the COVID lockdowns.

"I’m one of the few people in America that can say both of their parents were WWII vets, my mother joined the Army, she didn’t want to be left out of the good fight," said Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. "There’s a warm place in my heart for veterans and there should be for every resident of Nassau County because of the service they've given to our country. With the approval of the legislature, we are going to provide $10,000 as a grant to each AMVETS, American Legion, and VFW hall in Nassau County."

“We heard from numerous veteran groups who were facing major difficulties paying rent, property taxes and maintenance on their venues, which were forced to cancel catered events and other functions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing lockdowns,” said Nassau County Legislature Presiding Officer Richard Nicolello. “There was no reason to exclude veterans’ groups from receiving federal relief funds. With all that veterans have done and are continuing to do for our nation and communities, there should not have even been a question of eligibility.”

Veterans groups were not initially eligible for ARPA funds. Nicolello and the Legislative majority led the effort to make veteran organizations eligible for loans and grants available to qualified small businesses and non-profits. The Treasury Department has now expanded ARPA eligibility to include 501(c)(19) entities, which applies to veteran organizations. The new rule takes effect on April 1.

On March 30, 2022, Nicolello joined Blakeman and members of veterans organizations to announce the new program, in which the county will provide grants of up to $10,000 for veteran organizations that own their own buildings and rely on catering hall affairs and events to pay for their buildings.