Help Shape Legislation for The Defense Community Support Program

The Association of Defense Communities (ADC) is working on legislation for a new initiative called The Defense Community Support Program. This would be a new authority for DoD to fund a variety of community led military support programs — including those focused on childcare, recreation, education, military spouse and veteran skills training and employment, food insecurity, housing, and healthcare — that enhance a local installation’s military family quality of life.



To help pass this exciting new legislation, we need to collect examples of what this program could do for communities around the country, and all the great benefits it would have for our military and their families.

How can you help?


Please fill out the two questions below and identify current quality of life or workforce development projects in your community that is in at least some part funded (or could be funded) by a local or state affiliated organization (City, State, County, Chamber of Commerce, Econ Dev Agency, etc.). Another option is to identify a potential project that your community and/or state is considering supporting that could be stood-up if there was a matching DOD grant available.



Your response will be complied to help us promote this proposed program and get The Defense Community Support Program passed.

Below are examples of what a project write-up should look like:

**Please note that the proposed grant program would cover only operations expenses such as personnel, licensing, regulatory fees, research, outreach, educational or marketing materials, program development, and training. This program would not support physical infrastructure.



EXAMPLE:

Aligning Mission and Workforce

Warner Robins, Georgia

Robins Air Force Base


What is the Project?

To meet workforce demands, the Development Authority of Houston County, Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex, 21st Century Partnership and Houston County School District launched Project Synergy. It offers a collaborative workspace and educational setting in a new off-base, high-tech facility, supporting Robins AFB’s software missions and fostering workforce growth.


How would a grant under this proposed program improve or enable your project?

Expanding Project Synergy through a DOD grant would boost STEM programming, student throughput and workforce development for military and civilian sectors. This expansion aligns with its goal of enhancing quality of life, education and career opportunities. It would reinforce the vital role of military and DOD civilian families while elevating regional educational systems.




EXAMPLE:

Providing Special Education Opportunities

Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs Hill Air Force Base


What is the Project?

The Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs established a community-led Exceptional Military Family Support Team aiding a public school district outside Hill Air Force Base. With 750-800 Exceptional Military Family Program (EFMP) families at Hill Air Force Base, the district faces an 18% special education rate. The new team provides wrap-around support for this student population, complementing the single DOD-funded Military Family Life Counselor.


How would a grant under this proposed program improve or enable your project?

With limited state funding, the school district was able to hire two personnel to be part of the Military Support Team to help supplement DOD’s EFMP effort in Utah. But with the need still far outweighing the available resources, a grant under this proposed program would demonstrate to the state that this is a valuable project and allow them to increase resources and personnel dedicated to this effort.

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