The former National Guard Armory on 28 Road that has sat empty for years is getting a new lease on life as the Western Region Veterans One Source, a place where vets will find many services specifically for them under one roof.

Joanne Iglesias, director of veterans affairs west, said plans for the one-stop resource center began five years ago when a group called Joining Community Forces researched the need for one facility that organizes services in one place.

“There are a lot of nonprofits and veterans’ organizations, and trying to find them and get to them can be confusing and time consuming,” Iglesias said.

To add to the confusion, vets sometimes had to travel to the Eastern Slope for help because one director ran both the east and west divisions on the other side of the mountains.

Another proponent of combining services is Mickey Hunt with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs in Centennial. Iglesias said Hunt had the idea to repurpose the old armory years ago.

“It was his dream, he got it going, he took it to the legislature for approval,” she said.

The building is state property; therefore, the state has to approve any changes. And it did. The Colorado Department of Veterans Affairs is paying for the remodel, and it’s quite a project. Slated to open mid January, the “new” building retains the original brick walls inside, as well as the original wood-beamed ceilings. There will be four offices for state workers, including Iglesias and Jessica Olsen, the DEERS (Defense Enrollment and Eligibility Reporting System) operator. There will also be a classroom/meeting room, a flexible computer lab/classroom, and a multipurpose room. Ten small and two large office spaces are available for lease by nonprofits.

For instance, Olsen said, the VFW posts in the area might want to share one large office. Or perhaps organizations like Base Camp 40, which offers outdoor therapy to veterans by taking them on river runs or hunting trips, might lease space to reach the highest number of possible participants.

Besides getting help with services, she added, “We want it to be a place where vets can hang out and chat.”

Iglesias explained that currently, the Veterans Memorial Cemetery, VA Western Colorado Health Care System, the Mesa County Veteran Service Officer (VSO), and all veterans’ service organizations in the western region connect and partner with each other to help connect veterans and their families to the right resource to meet their needs.

“The Western Region One Source (WROS) desires to be the trusted One Source facility to provide these services,” she said.

Potential services that may be offered through Western Region One Source include veterans’ benefit help, counseling services, health and wellness support which could include physical and behavioral health, education and training, employment assistance, DEERS and ID cards, legal and financial services, and recreational opportunities. The classroom could also be rented by the day by companies that can help vets with other things, such as mortgage assistance and separation transition training.

Iglesias explained that any nonprofit aimed at helping vets and their families is welcome to lease space. She added, “If they need funding, there are two types of grants for start-up money.”

Olsen added, “And those grants are really underutilized.”

Iglesias also mentioned that benefit rules have changed over the years. Vets who were told they didn’t qualify for care at the VA Medical Center because of income or other restrictions might now be eligible.

“Don’t rely on 20-year-old information,” she said. “Find out what the requirements are now.”

Though the Department of Veterans Affairs has paid for the renovation, it won’t pay for furnishings, computers and other necessities. Iglesias said that monetary donations to One Source will go a long way toward creating a space where veterans can be assisted and will feel comfortable.

Sponsorship tiers range from $1,000 to $25,000. Individual donations in any amount are welcome and can be mailed to Western Region One Source, 2830 Riverside Parkway, Grand Junction, CO 81501.

Office leasing costs include internet, Wi-Fi, telephones with direct lines, maintenance and custodial services, utilities, secure building, any of the classrooms and other shared facilities, shared staff break room and more. Applications and costs for leased space, a floor plan and sponsorship packets can be found at www.colorado.gov/dmva/wros.

For more information, call Iglesias at 263-8986.