Grant to aid disabled vetsv
By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
Earlier this summer, the Northern Maine Development Commission was one of seven Maine agencies that received a grant from the Tibor and Anna Doby Veteran Support Fund.
The grants totaled $118,000, of which NMDC was awarded $25,000 to provide disabled veterans with one-time funding necessary for them to overcome specific barriers hindering them from employment.
While the grant was awarded to NMDC, this funding will be utilized by the Aroostook and Washington County Workforce Investment Board in conjunction with the Disability Employment Initiative’s Flexible Employment Fund (FEF), which aims to help disabled individuals re-enter the workforce by helping them overcome one-time obstacles.
If, for example, a disabled individual were to lack appropriate attire for an interview, Flexible Employment Funds could be utilized to purchase the clothing to help the individual obtain employment.
The DEI has utilized the $25,000 Doby grant to create a fund similar to the FEF, in that the $25,000 will be allocated to disabled veterans in providing one-time payments to help them overcome employment-hindering obstacles.
Director of Workforce Development Ryan Pelletier said that he sees the Doby Veteran Support Fund as a positive piece for the program.
