Veterans Service Commission

What Veterans Service Commission does

Veterans Service Commission of Summit County is a county government agency mandated under Title 59 of the Ohio Revised Code to deliver free benefits assistance, financial aid, burial support, and transportation services to honorably discharged veterans and their dependents residing in Summit County, Ohio. Established in 1886 under the original Soldiers Relief Act, the organization is governed by a five-member board of commissioners appointed by the Summit County Common Pleas Court judges from nominees of established veteran service organizations (VFW, American Legion, DAV, AMVETS, and Vietnam Veterans of America), and is funded through Summit County property tax revenue. Services are delivered free of charge at the agency's Akron headquarters via walk-in and appointment-based service, through homebound outreach to private dwellings, group homes, and nursing facilities, and via scheduled transportation to multiple VA medical facilities including the Louis Stokes VA Medical Center and the Akron, Kent, Parma, and Sandusky VA locations.

The agency's core product set is built around five service lines: VA Claims and Benefits Assistance (covering Service Connected Compensation, Survivors Pension, Education Benefits, VA Home Loans, VA Insurance, Burial Benefits, Military Records, and VA Medical Health Benefits), a Financial Assistance Program providing short-term aid for rent, mortgage, utilities, and food, Burial Benefits Services (up to $1,000 in burial assistance plus markers, flags, and headstones), Transportation Services to VA facilities, and ancillary services including counseling referrals, military records retrieval, and outreach. Approximately 20+ staff, of whom 80% are themselves veterans, contribute over 32,560 hours per year under the supervision of Certified Veteran Service Officers; leadership is anchored by Director Larry Moore, CVSO Supervisor Dave Donaldson, Clerical Supervisor Jennifer Pelfrey, and Transportation Supervisor W. Gorden Dean. Technology is not a material component of the service delivery model; the agency's web presence (vscsummitoh.us) and quarterly EyesRight newsletter serve primarily as communication and outreach channels rather than as a service platform.

The business model is a government-funded, zero-cost-to-user social services model with no commercial revenue streams, no shareholders, and no venture capital involvement. Distribution is exclusively direct and physical — walk-in service at the Akron headquarters, field outreach to homebound veterans, and shuttle transportation to VA facilities — supplemented by community programming (Guitars 4Vets, Adopt-A-Flag with Summit County Schools, Canine Good Citizenship training, Veteran Job and Career Fairs with ODJFS, and Memorial Day and Columbus trips). The customer base is structurally a single defined constituency (Summit County veterans and their dependents), with service eligibility restricted by residency and discharge status, making the agency fully dependent on Summit County property tax allocations and on the strength of its federal VA counterparty relationship.

Name

Veterans Service Commission

Legal name

Veteran's Service Commission of Summit County

Website

https://vscsummitoh.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

1886

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Veterans Service Commission of Summit County is a county-mandated agency that delivers free VA claims assistance, financial aid, burial benefits, transportation, and counseling referrals to honorably discharged veterans and their dependents residing in Summit County, Ohio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Veteran Services

NAICS

Administration of Veterans' Affairs (923140), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterans Affairs & Military Family Services (BPAIAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Veterans & Military Family Benefits Administration (BPAIAKAI)

Keywords

• Veteran benefits assistance
• VA claims filing
• Financial aid veterans
• Burial benefits services
• Veteran transportation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Akron

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. County Property Tax Funding: Funded by residents of Summit County through property tax. A mandated county organization through Title 59 of the Ohio revised code. All services are provided free of charge to eligible veterans and their dependents.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Veterans Service Commission of Summit County provides free, comprehensive support services to honorably discharged veterans and their dependents residing in Summit County, Ohio. Core offerings include assistance filing VA claims and benefits, short-term financial assistance for basic living expenses, burial benefits support, and transportation to VA medical facilities. The organization also provides counseling referrals, military records assistance, and outreach to homebound veterans.

Product overview

Veterans Service Commission of Summit County is a mandated county organization under Title 59 of Ohio revised code that provides a comprehensive suite of free services to veterans and their dependents. The organization offers a unified service portfolio centered on VA Claims & Benefits Assistance, Financial Assistance, Burial Benefits, Transportation Services, Counseling Services, Military Records Assistance, and Outreach Services. Additional offerings include the EyesRight newsletter publication and community programs such as Guitars 4Vets and Job Bootcamps. The VSC serves as a liaison between veterans and the VA, helping clients navigate systems to maximize their benefits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VA Claims & Benefits Assistance Free assistance for veterans, widows, and dependents with filing VA claims including Service Connected Compensation, Survivors Pension, Education Benefits, VA Home Loans, VA Insurance, Burial Benefits, Military Records, and VA Medical Health Benefits.
• Financial Assistance Program Short-term immediate assistance with basic living expenses such as rent, mortgage, utilities, and food for eligible veterans and their dependents experiencing financial hardship.
• Burial Benefits Services Assistance with final expenses for indigent veterans and dependents, including up to $1,000 in burial assistance, burial markers, flags, and headstones.
• Transportation Services Transportation to and from VA medical facilities and the Sandusky Ohio Veterans Home, including Louis Stokes VA Medical Center, Akron VA Clinic, Parma VA Clinic, and Kent VA Clinic.
• Counseling Services Readjustment counseling services through Vet Center of Cleveland, including individual and group counseling, family counseling, bereavement counseling, military sexual trauma counseling, and substance abuse assessment.
• Military Records Assistance Assistance requesting military service records, medical records, and service medals from the National Personnel Records Center and Ohio Department of Veterans Services.
• Outreach Services Home-bound assistance bringing VA benefits and financial assistance services to veterans unable to transport themselves due to disabilities, including those in nursing homes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Assistance with filing VA claims at no cost vs. some groups that charge ridiculous fees

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and minor.

• American Legion (AL)coreOthersOne of the veteran organizations that nominates candidates for the 5-member Veterans Service Commission board. Commissioners are chosen by Summit County Common Pleas Court judges from recommendations by veteran organizations.
• Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)coreOthersOne of the veteran organizations that nominates candidates for the 5-member Veterans Service Commission board. Commissioners are chosen by Summit County Common Pleas Court judges from recommendations by veteran organizations.
• Disabled American Veterans (DAV)coreOthersOne of the veteran organizations that nominates candidates for the 5-member Veterans Service Commission board. DAV member Mike Stith currently serves as a commissioner.
• American Veterans (AMVETS)coreOthersOne of the veteran organizations that nominates candidates for the 5-member Veterans Service Commission board. AMVETS member David Mruk currently serves as a commissioner.
• Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA)coreOthersOne of the veteran organizations that nominates candidates for the 5-member Veterans Service Commission board. VVA member Charles Auker currently serves as a commissioner.
• Vet Center of ClevelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVSC provides referrals to Vet Center for readjustment counseling services including individual and group counseling, family counseling, bereavement counseling, military sexual trauma counseling, substance abuse assessment, and employment assistance.
• Ohio Jobs and Family Services (ODJFS)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint effort to host and support veteran job fairs throughout the year. Goal is to help Summit County veterans access VSC and ODJFS services that can directly or indirectly impact veterans and their dependents.
• Guitars 4VetskeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic therapy program for veterans held most Thursday evenings at VSC. Coordinated by David Burden. Program provides guitar lessons and musical therapy to help veterans with PTSD and reintegration challenges.
• Summit County SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdopt-A-Flag program encourages Summit County school children to adopt and care for memorial burial flags in honor of veterans throughout the year.
• Summit County Consumer AffairsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides financial classes to veterans and their families to help with budgeting and financial literacy.
• Consumer Financial Protection BureauminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides financial budgeting and coaching services to veterans through VSC referrals.
• Food banks/Mobile Meals providersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVSC provides Mobile Meals to housebound Veterans that meet agency requirements.
• Support Our Veterans Co. (SOVC)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerSOVC works to provide safe housing and supportive services through homes in partnership with the VA's HUD-VASH program, helping homeless veterans in the region.
• Cor CanisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides Canine Good Citizenship dog training sessions for veterans at VSC location. Contact: 234-901-7206, [email protected]
• National Personnel Records CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVSC assists veterans in requesting military service records, medical records, or service medals from the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
• Ohio Department of Veterans Services (ODVS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVSC can send requests to the Governor's Office of Veteran's Affairs to check if DD214/Discharge records are on file for Ohio veterans who received state wartime bonuses or served during wartime.
• U.S. Department of Veteran AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary partner for VA claims processing, healthcare coordination, and benefits administration. VSC serves as liaison between veterans and the VA.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Paralyzed Veterans of America: National service organization for veterans with spinal cord injuries and disabilities, operating a national service officer program that files VA claims. A peer in providing free, accredited VA claims assistance to a defined veteran population.
• Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW): National veterans service organization offering VA claims assistance, benefits navigation, and advocacy. VFW is one of VSC's governance-nominating organizations and a direct peer in delivering free or low-cost benefits support to veterans.
• Disabled American Veterans (DAV): National veterans service organization that provides free VA claims assistance and represents disabled veterans. DAV is one of VSC's governance-nominating organizations and a direct functional peer in claims and benefits representation work.
• American Legion: Largest U.S. wartime veterans organization with a national service officer corps that assists with VA claims. American Legion nominates commissioners to the VSC board and is a direct peer in veteran benefits representation.
• Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA): National veterans service organization focused on Vietnam-era veterans and their families, providing benefits assistance and advocacy. VVA is one of VSC's governance-nominating organizations and a peer in claims/benefits work.
• Military Order of the Purple Heart: Veterans service organization for combat-wounded Purple Heart recipients, providing free claims assistance and advocacy. Listed among VSC's nominating organizations for commissioners and is a peer in VA benefits representation.
• AMVETS (American Veterans): National veterans service organization providing free claims assistance and benefits representation. AMVETS is one of VSC's governance-nominating organizations and a direct peer in the VA claims assistance category.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): Federal agency administering veterans benefits, healthcare, and burial services. The VSC functions as a county-level liaison and claims preparer for VA benefits, making the VA its primary upstream partner and the system around which its core service is built.
• Wounded Warrior Project: Large national nonprofit serving post-9/11 wounded veterans with benefits navigation, mental health, and transition programs. A broader-scale peer in delivering veterans benefits assistance and wraparound support services.
• Ohio Department of Veterans Services (ODVS): State-level agency that coordinates Ohio's veterans policy, operates Ohio Veterans Homes, and partners with each county's Veterans Service Commission. Directly comparable as the public-sector body overseeing the very program the VSC administers at the county level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/groups/g4vsummitoh
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/summit-county-veterans-service-commission

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Veterans Service Commission