By Cecilia Chan
Independent Newsmedia

Glendale is home to more than 15,000 veterans and that population is expected to grow, especially having Luke Air Force in its backyard.

For those who transitions to life after the military it comes with road bumps as data shows many veterans who served after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, have experienced difficulties readjusting to civilian life, according to the Pew Research Center.

But help is on the way with the Maricopa Community College District’s Veteran Success Project, which aims to transition veterans and their spouses from active duty to civilian life with notably with job and educational opportunities.

“What we are doing is changing the model,” said Steve Yamamori, vice president of Veterans Initiatives for the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation. “We are actually training and hiring veterans service specialists who act as outreach and case manager who will help folks holistically, where they are in life and where they want to go and put together a test plan to allow them to understand where they want to go. We will work with all community resources to help them on their path.”

A one-stop veterans support center is underway in the West Valley with a remodeling of a building at Luke Air Force Base. The college district opened an East Valley Veterans Education Center in Tempe about four years ago.

A soft opening for the West Valley center is scheduled for June or July with a grand opening planned for September, Mr. Yamamori said.

The goal is to raise $14 million for the endeavor with $2.5 million coming from 11 West Valley communities. The communities have been asked for a pledge, the size of which reflects the percentage of veterans living in their boundaries.

So far, nine of the 11 communities have committed funding, according to Mr. Yamamori.

Peoria has agreed to give one-time funding of $20,000 to the project through the General Fund Grant Program, city spokeswoman Jennifer Stein said, adding the group is eligible to apply for the grant every year. The Foundation has requested $300,000 from the city.

Surprise has budgeted $50,000 for the center in its upcoming spending plan and the intention is to request $50,000 each year until the city reaches $250,000, according to City Manager Bob Wingenroth in a letter to the Foundation.

Glendale and Phoenix have not made a firm commitment yet.

Glendale City Council recently discussed the request for a commitment of $70,000 a year for five years for the center.

“They are asking for a total of $350,000 over a five-year period,” said Councilman Ray Malnar who urged his peers’ support during a budget study session. “This is not in the budget so we got to find some money if we are going to do this.”

Councilman Malnar noted the city’s financial cost can be reduced by $7,000 with in-kind donations of things such as giving extra desks or excess artwork and offering trash pick up and landscaping for the building.

He said he came up with some interesting ways to help fund the request.

“I’m asking HR to do something I never would ask them to do normally and ask them to drag their feet on hiring,” he said.

He said if the hiring of council staff person was put off for four months until Nov. 1, that would give $30,500. Delaying the hiring of another full-time staff position for one month would yield $10,500 and a Human Resources technician for one month, $4,900, he said.

That leaves $17,000 short, which Councilman Malnar said perhaps the Police or Fire departments can help by delaying something by a month or so.

“I do believe we could fund this some how,” he said. “This funding request can only be one year but I hope the city considers this every year.”

Councilwoman Lauren Tolmachoff called the center a good idea.

However, she said, she does not agree with postponing the hiring of a council aide for four months. She suggested as the Council goes through its budget process, it looks for ways to address the funding.

Councilwoman Joyce Clark said she also does not support delaying the hiring of a council aide.

“I support the concept and funding it at some level,” she said, adding she wants assurances, funding also was coming from grants and corporations. “They are tapping all the cities but I don’t know what they are seeking with other sources of funding.”

EPCOR Water has committed $25,000 to paid in installments over five years and The Mellon Family Fundation is donating $2,000 each year over the next five years for a total of $10,000, according to documents.

Mayor Jerry Weiers said the Foundation has left no stone unturned in seeking funding for the support center. He also noted that not all veterans from Luke stays in Arizona but return to their home state.

“All of us should discuss for a way to make this happen,” he said. “I think if everybody agrees it should be a consideration in the near future but I am not sure if we have consensus to do those things.”
Councilman Bart Turner called the center a worthy endeavor and that he would be happy to see a placeholder in the budget for it.

“It doesn’t mean we will appropriate money today,” he said. “But we are keeping space in the budget and if everybody’s questions are answered to their satisfaction and we move forward, we can stand with other cities in the West Valley that are also adding it to their budgets.”

Councilman Jamie Aldama said he works for the Maricopa County Community District and will recuse himself from all conversations on the topic.

City Manager Kevin Phelps said there will be a placeholder in the budget for the item and staff was currently developing an agreement with the Foundation, which would need Council approval.

So far, more than $600,000 has been raised, according to the group’s website.

Funding will be two-pronged, to cover immediate costs as well as fund an endowment that would cover the anticipated $200,000 to $250,000 annual operating costs in perpetuity.

The Foundation has a five-year, no-cost lease with Luke Air Force Base for a 1,548-square-foot unused building located on the east side of Litchfield Road. Mr. Yamamori said the lease can be continued if the program is successful.

The goal is to help 100,000 veterans and their families over the next 10 years. Besides job and education, housing, human services and personal services also will be offered. The Foundation has inked an agreement with Luke to transition 400 to 450 airmen annually.

Mr. Yamamori agreed with the mayor’s comment that some airmen will return to their home state when they leave Luke but many would stay if they have opportunities in Arizona.

“A lot of time it depends on what opportunities are there,” he said. “Lot of people are curious what the opportunities are before they leave (the state).”

According to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, up to 650,000 veterans live in Arizona, which is 11 percent of the total population in the state.

This population has the potential to grow with more than 1 million active personnel serving currently, who will return to civilian life in the near future, according to the Foundation website.

“What I would like the people to understand is the West Valley in this effort and especially the cities, are making a huge commitment for sustained support of transitioning veterans and their spouses,” Mr. Yamamori said. “This is something that is leading the nation in a holistic support and case management of our hero community. We hope his will be an example and pilot that can go nationwide.”

 

Veterans by municipality in West Valley

• West Phoenix — 39,161, 33 percent
• Glendale — 15,800, 14 percent
• Peoria — 13,492, 12 percent
• Surprise — 12,730, 11 percent
• Sun City — 8,800, 8 percent
• Sun City West — 6,580, 6 percent
• Goodyear — 6,353, 6 percent
• Avondale — 5,038, 4.5 percent
• Buckeye — 3,364, 3 percent
• El Mirage, 1,680, 1 percent
• Litchfield Park—520, .5 percent
• Tolleson — 304, .5 percent
• Youngtown — 297, .5 percent

To donate or for more information, go to https://mcccdf.org/fundraising/veteran-success-project/
Source: Maricopa Coummunity Colleges