Veterans Resource Center opens in Montgomery

February 18, 2026 – MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The state of Alabama held the ribbon cutting ceremony for the state's new Veteran's Resource Center in downtown Montgomery. The Dexter Avenue facility opened just 12 months after the Legislature passed and Governor Kay Ivey (R) signed the legislation during last year's session along with sweeping changes that the Legislature made to the organization of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs.

The new Veterans Resource Center will be one central location for veterans to access the full spectrum of available services across both different generations and the different service branches.

Gov. Ivey said, "I am honored to join you to officially open the Veterans Resource Center."

"In Alabama we strive to be the most veteran friendly state in the nation," said Ivey. "Thank you all for making Alabama and even better state for our veterans."

Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) said, "It is an honor to be here on such a great occasion."

"The heroes in our country should be our veterans," said Speaker Ledbetter. "It shouldn't be the linebacker in the NFL or the quarterback. They are the ones who were prepared to lay down their lives for our freedom."

Senator President Pro Tempore Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) said that the Veterans Resource Center is, "A promise being made to those men and women who wore the uniform of the greatest nation on Earth."

Veterans will be able to go to the Veterans Resource Center to find a job, receive career counseling, mental health services, apply for disability assistance, and other veterans' services.

Gudger said that the counselors at the Veterans Service Center will help "To clear a path and provide that service," that that veteran needs.

"Alabamians have a love of country that is second to none," said Gudger. "Thank you for service. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for standing tall for the United States."

Former state Senate President Pro Tem. Greg Reed (R-Jasper) is now the Secretary of Workforce. He is also the Chairman of the Board of the Alabama Veterans Resources Center.

"My job as the Chairman of the Alabama Veterans Resources Center Board of Directors is to say thank you," to Governor Kay Ivey and the Legislature for passing this legislation and providing the funding for it said Chairman Reed.

"Don't we love Kay Ivey," said Reed. "I also appreciate Speaker Ledbetter and Pro Tem Gudger. They do phenomenal work for the people of Alabama, and they have put us in a place where the Veterans Resource Center is a reality."

Reed also thanked Alabama Power Company and CEO Jeff Peoples for coming up with the idea, helping find space on Dexter Avenue for the Center, helping and for advocating for the concept.

"I want to thank my board members," said Reed. "We actually began meeting as a board in September of last year. It is because of the men and women who served on this board that we were able to get this office finished so rapidly."

General Jeff Newton is the head of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs.

Gen. Newtown told reporters that there are plans to eventually open satellite offices of the Veterans Resources Center. He said that they are looking at Huntsville, Birmingham, and Mobile, but that the actually siting of the satellite offices would be "data driven."

Gen. Newton said that veterans were waiting in line to speak to counselors before they had even opened the office that morning. Newton said that when you include the Alabama National Guard there "are over 400,000 veterans in Alabama.

"We in Alabama have resources for you and we want you," Newton said of Alabama's veterans.

President Peoples said, "I often talk about being better together."

"We have a tremendous governor," Peoples said of Gov. Ivey.

Peoples also praised Secretary Reed for moving this from idea to completion in just 12 months, "To where people are already being assisted."

Peoples said that many "Alabama veterans are too proud to reach out and get their benefits."

"We are one of the most populated states in America in veterans," said Peoples. "I could not be prouder to be an Alabamian. We want Alabamians making decisions about Alabamians."

There will be a public open house for the new Veterans Resource Center on Thursday February 26.

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