Montrose County Joins Global Wave of Veteran Investment During National Observance

MONTROSE, CO — As policymakers across Washington, Canberra, and Ottawa reframe how veterans are supported post-service, Montrose County has emerged as a model of localized, meaningful action during this year’s National Invest in Veterans Week (March 1–7).

In partnership with national nonprofit Guitars 4 Vets and local organization Welcome Home Alliance for Veterans, Montrose County’s Veteran Services Office is offering weekly guitar instruction to veterans of all musical backgrounds. The initiative culminates in each participant receiving a full starter kit—guitar, case, books, and materials—following the successful completion of ten sessions.

More than a gesture, the program is an example of how rural and regional communities can participate in a growing global movement to treat veterans not as recipients of assistance, but as active participants in community and economic life.

“This is not just a class—it’s an access point to healing, creativity, and social reentry,” noted stakeholders at the Welcome Home Alliance. The program operates every Friday and is open to all veterans. Interested individuals can learn more at www.whafv.org or www.guitars4vets.org.

A Larger Global Context

Montrose’s announcement comes during a record-setting year for structural advances in veteran policy across the English-speaking world:

• In Australia, the Returned & Services League (RSL) released its 2025 Election Asks, calling for complete implementation of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide and a national overhaul of healthcare access, transition policy, and defence investment.

• In the United States, this year marked the launch of ITA Growth Partners, the country’s first private family office investing exclusively in veteran-owned ventures. Academic institutions such as Harvard Catalyst have also integrated veteran reintegration into long-term national policy planning.

• In Canada, national press coverage in early 2025 highlighted new efforts to frame military service as an economic asset, aligned with entrepreneurial and innovation strategies.

Together, these developments mark the first coordinated international triangulation of veteran investment initiatives across the U.S., Canada, and Australia.

Local Impact, National Momentum

Congressional voices, including Rep. Glenn Grothman (WI-06), have reinforced the national scope of this week’s observance, citing the contributions of more than 39,000 veterans in his district alone and affirming legislative commitment to long-term support frameworks.

In Montrose County, the story is told not in numbers but in individual notes—strummed in a shared space where music, mentorship, and meaning intersect.

Full county release available here:
https://www.montrosecounty.net/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1011