HCP Associates Kick-off Campaign for Veterans Resource Center at Ceremonial Ground Breaking
Tampa, Fla. (December 8, 2016) – On Monday, Dec. 5 at 2 p.m. in a tranquil field at the Veterans Memorial Park & Museum off U.S. 301 North in Tampa, members from HCP Associates gathered with the public, local veterans and Hillsborough County officials to officially break ground for the long-awaited Veterans Resource Center.
Hillsborough County’s Veterans Services orchestrated a request for proposal (RFP) in early 2016 on behalf of the Park’s non-profit organization, a 501(c)(3) titled the Veteran’s Memorial Park and Museum Committee, Inc. (VMPMC). HCP Associates won the bid and will now provide strategic planning, secondary research, branding and consulting for capital fundraising.
VMPMC Chair Tom Aderhold said, “Fulfilling our steroid-driven mission requires significant resources and the means for securing them, so our veteran memorial park and museum committee entered into an agreement with HCP Associates to help with the future vision and fundraising campaign for phases two and three.”
According to Hillsborough County, the region is home to more than 94,000 veterans, the second largest in the state and quickly becoming number one. The new service center will be a result of a unified effort by veteran advocates, Hillsborough County Government and the State of Florida. The $1.8 million project is funded with $300,000 in County Capital Improvement Program funds and a $1.5 million grant from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. The 8,000-square-foot Center will be the new home for the County’s Consumer & Veterans Services, and will include a multi-purpose room for uses such as training and special events.
Eric Polins, former U.S. Marine and Senior Brand Strategist/Partner at HCP Associates said, “It’s truly an honor to be selected to serve the VMPMC and all service men and women for this mission. Veterans and their families are receiving an estimated $466 million in federal benefits and Hillsborough County ranks first in the state for the economic impact of its veteran population. The Center will be an amazing service-based anchor to the memorials and tributes to wars fought and local soldiers fallen.”
Volunteers from local Veterans’ organizations have partnered with the County to help develop a master plan for the park, raise donations for the memorials, and provide volunteers at the museum. Construction for the center is scheduled to be completed in summer 2017.
For more information on the Veterans Resource Center, visit www.veteransparkhc.com.