Building a Roadmap for Michigan Veteran-Friendly Communities

The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA), in partnership with Altarum, created the first-ever “Veteran-Friendly Community” (VFC). This will give 562,000 Veterans better access to services and create a blueprint for other states.

Through in-depth research, collaborator engagement, and advanced analytics, the Michigan VFC Project delivered a roadmap to help each county build a sustainable, supportive community.

Challenge: No Definition, So No Way to Measure

Veterans often face obstacles to resources, employment, housing, and health care. Without a clear definition of “Veteran-Friendly,” states can’t measure progress or close gaps.

Solution: A Definition and a Roadmap

The Michigan VFC Project developed a data-driven definition and criteria for VFCs that were grounded in Veteran input and rigorous analysis. We developed actionable recommendations and tools, including an interactive ArcGIS mapping platform, to help counties visualize gaps and plan improvements.

Focus Areas

Military and Veterans Health

Impact: Counties Have Tools They Need

Michigan counties now have:

  • The first-ever statewide definition of a VFC
  • A clear, replicable roadmap for improving Veteran services
  • Tools to pinpoint service gaps, prioritize improvements, and benchmark progress

This framework enhances visibility and support for Veterans across Michigan.

Next, Altarum will lead efforts to scale this model nationally, helping every Veteran thrive.

 

  • Michigan is the first state to define “Veteran-Friendly Community”
  • ~562,000 Michigan Veterans receive better support
  • 3,500+ Veterans surveyed
  • A replicable roadmap and actionable recommendations for each county
  • Interactive GIS map with detailed source data and scoring calculations 

Altarum was incredible to work with […] they offered professional guidance and recommendations, leveraged technology, and produced a final product that was easy to understand and present to our community partners. We are incredibly proud to have such great partners who took the time to understand the “why” behind the work and clearly put thought, expertise, and heart into their work!”

— MVAA

Focus Areas

Military and Veterans Health