The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs recently announced Lehigh County is among 12 counties to receive grants from the Pennsylvania Veterans' Trust Fund.

According to a press release from Pat Browne, R-16th, senate appropriations chairman, Lehigh County's Department of Veterans Affairs was awarded $2,750 to expand its existing outreach services for veterans.

This is the second year grants from the Veterans' Trust Fund have been awarded.

The Veterans' Trust Fund was established in 2012. Revenues generated from Pennsylvanians voluntarily making a donation of $3 when applying for or renewing their driver's license, photo ID or renewing a motor vehicle registration, as well as proceeds from the sale of the Honoring our Veterans license plate, help fund the program.

Grants were available for new, innovative and expanded programs operated by County Directors of Veterans Affairs or the Pennsylvania Association of County Directors of Veterans Affairs. The three areas of emphasis for these entities include health care enrollment, veteran outreach initiatives and veterans' court initiatives within Pennsylvania at the community, county, regional or statewide level.

All grants are contingent upon the completion of a fully executed grant agreement. To learn more about the trust fund, visit the webiste www.vtf.state. pa.us.