Lehigh County is one of 12 counties to receive grants from the Pennsylvania Veterans' Trust Fund, according to Senate Appropriations Chairman Pat Browne, R-16th.

Lehigh County's Department of Veterans Affairs was awarded $2,750 to expand its existing outreach services for veterans.

"The Veterans' Trust Fund is a valuable program to assist local government agencies financially to support initiatives and services that help our veterans," Browne said.

"I am pleased Lehigh County's Department of Veterans Affairs qualified and received a grant through this program to aid in its efforts to ensure our veterans have the resources they need to help them through difficult times. Pennsylvanians have shown a tremendous amount of support for our veterans and for this new program."

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 were 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 VTF, visit vtf.state.pa.us.