The Catawba County Veterans Service Office opened in the early 1990s to provide another set of services to veterans, on the local government level.   The office works to help veterans obtain benefits and services, working when

appropriate with the North Carolina Division of Veterans Affairs and the federal Veterans Administration.

You may recall that the Veterans Services Office was cut back to half time following a budget crisis on the State and local levels in 2001.  As of July 1, 2007, the Veterans Services Office is again open on a full time basis!  

The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on the ground floor of the Government Center, located at 100-A Southwest Boulevard (at the corner of Highway 321 Business and Radio Station Road) in Newton, North Carolina.  Appointments are preferred and may be made by calling 828-465-8255 or e-mailing Veterans Services Officer Cindy Travis at ctravis@catawbacountync.gov.

Cindy Travis began working as Veterans Services Officer in 2004.  She says she truly enjoys interacting with and assisting the men and women who have served our country in the military services.   She has the experience and contacts to help

veterans through the varying levels of services and benefits available to them.

Catawba County has 12,491 veterans. The number is increasing every year due to soldiers being discharged from service and retirees moving to the area. The County's Veterans Services Office sees an average of 450 veterans each month.  Benefits received for Catawba County vets average $29.7 million dollars a year.

An important new service that's just on the horizon for Catawba County veterans is the opening of a new Veterans Administration clinic in Hickory, scheduled for August of this year. 

"The new clinic will be located on Fairgrove Church Road and will have approximately 10,000 square feet," Travis said. "By 2010, a new facility will be built at another location and will be over 20,000 square feet in size.  In order for veterans to go to the new VA Hickory Clinic, they will need to be already enrolled in the VA healthcare system. Veterans who are already going to Salisbury and Asheville will be automatically transferred to the Hickory Clinic.  If a veteran does not wish to be transferred, that veteran will need to contact the VA in writing and request to remain with his or her present clinic."

For more information on the Catawba County's Veterans Services Office, you may visit the office web site or call 828-465-8255.