Federal officials announced on Wednesday that Minnesota will get $1.2 million to improve online and phone information for rural veterans seeking transportation for health care, job training and other activities.WHAT IT MEANS

The money will upgrade the MinnesotaHelp.info website, which provides users with a one-stop referral for available social services.

The goal is to coordinate public, private and nonprofit services for veterans to "make it much simpler for them to get to wherever they need to go," said Mike Schadauer, director of the office of transit at the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

WHY THE NEED

"Many of them are coming back with tough economic challenges," said Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn. "They're looking at ways of keeping costs down. Sometimes that may mean only one car in the family."

HOW IT WILL WORK

The transportation referral system will begin in 27 counties of southwestern Minnesota and expand over several years. It will include a database of transportation data and a trip planner. As envisioned, a veteran in a small town could use the system to find the best way to get to a doctor's appointment or job training in a regional center.

THE BIG PICTURE

The grant is part of a $35 million nationwide initiative by the Obama administration to improve transportation options for veterans, especially those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

PAT DOYLE