Victory Village will receive $2 million from Florida’s Framework for Freedom Budget for fiscal year 2023-24 signed by Governor Ron DeSantis on June 15, 2023. 

• The funding will be used to purchase 80 acres of land from the U.S. Air Force which will be used to develop a military senior living community with resources and services for wounded warriors and their caregivers.

“I am grateful to Speaker Paul Renner and Governor DeSantis for their support of Victory Village,” said Rep. Patt Maney. “The Panhandle Delegation led by Senators Doug Broxson and Jay Trumbull understand what an important resource this will be to Okaloosa County and our military widows and aging veterans.”

Victory Village will be located adjacent to Air Force Enlisted Village (AFEV) in Shalimar, Florida. Plans for the community include multiple neighborhoods for 800 people to reside, a community center, a multidenominational chapel, a fitness center and pool, walking paths, retail services, and a fire and EMS substation to also serve AFEV and the Poquito Bayou neighborhood.

“We’re honored to receive this funding, and we’re grateful to our legislative representatives for working in support of our vision for Victory Village,” AFEV and Victory Village President/CEO Brooke McLean said. 

• “Our research for Victory Village has shown that the aging process for wounded warriors with physical and mental injuries of war will not be typical. Victory Village will honor aging injured service members with an expert understanding of their unique requirements that will be needed so they may live their best lives with others who have shared similar experiences.”                                                                                           

Victory Village plans to offer a continuum of care complete with on-site skilled nursing and will also be home to surviving spouses of retired enlisted service members and retired enlisted couples of all military branches of service.

“It will be a senior living community like no other,” McLean said.

According to the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs (FDVA), Florida has the third largest population of veterans in the nation after California and Texas with more than 1.5 million veterans.