The Veterans Center receives $500K donation for renovation project

April 22, 2024 Shannon Lukens

By Shannon Lukens.

The Veterans Center renovation project received another $500,000 anonymous donation Friday, through Yampa Valley Community Foundation. It’s going towards the $3M renovation of the building, which was built in 1898. Bruce Hannon is on the board for The Veterans Center.

“We feel thankful, blessed, amazed. It couldn’t come at a better time. We’re just about to sign the building contract within the next two weeks. We’re ready to go!”

Asbestos decontamination begins in June. It will take about a week.

There will be an Open House on the 4^th of July. At 7 a.m. on Saturday, July 6, the building will be turned over to the builder, which is Spectrum Construction Corporation of Denver. The renovation is expected to take nine months.

“We’ll be open for business hopefully by April 1^st, barring any unforeseen problems when we starting tearing that 125-year-old building apart.”

The fundraising began in July 2023. So far, over 350 people and businesses have donated to the project. The Board of Directors for the Veterans Centers says they still need to raise $154,794 to reach the $3M target. Donations are still being accepted through the Yampa Valley Community Foundation.

Donation Link through ColoradoGives.org

Donate Here

Another part of the project will be the hiring of a new Veterans Service Officer who will represent the Veterans Administration in facilitating veterans applying for benefits, help, and services. That Veterans Service Officer will be based in the building. The Board is hoping funding will allow the position to be a 40-hour per week job.

Hannon adds, “Our first order of business is to attract all the recent veterans who live in the five counties in Northwest Colorado and provide a home away from home for them and assist them with all their services related needs. Many community members have volunteered their time and expertise to help. We hope all the vets of the Afghan and Iraq and Syria service will stop by so we can assist them.”

The Board of Directors of The Veterans Center of Northwest Colorado are Jeff Steck, Loretta Kuhlman, Joe Armstrong Sr,. Jim Stanko, Kent Fredrickson and Bruce Hannon.