Business Plan & Community Model
Storm Veterans Village
1725½ Vermont Street, Blue Island, IL
Executive Summary
Storm Veterans Village is a proposed veteran community living and healing campus at 1725½ Vermont Street, Blue Island, IL. The project transforms the property into a 200-room (400-bed) residential facility with integrated wellness, healing, community farming, and support services — all purpose-built for veterans.
The project is a partnership between Storm (service-disabled veteran-owned C Corporation) and the Storm Foundation (501(c)(3) nonprofit, in formation), funded primarily through VA per diem reimbursements at $85 per bed per day (400 beds, $12.4M+ annually), supplemented by grants, pharmacy services, and community partnerships — creating a self-sustaining model that serves veterans while generating significant economic impact for the City of Blue Island.
The Problem
veterans experience homelessness on any given night in the U.S.
veterans per day are lost to suicide
service members transition out of the military each year, many without adequate support
Cook County and the South Suburbs have significant unmet demand for veteran housing and support services.
Existing programs are fragmented — housing in one place, mental health in another, job training somewhere else.
Storm Veterans Village solves this by putting everything under one roof.
Site Facilities
| Facility | Purpose | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Building | Veteran housing | 200 rooms / 400 beds |
| Healing Center | Mental health & holistic wellness | 6 dedicated therapy rooms |
| Commercial Kitchen & Dining | Meals, nutrition, job training | 200+ seat dining hall |
| Community Farm | Agricultural therapy & food production | Year-round greenhouse + plots |
| Visitor Center | Family visits, meetings | Indoor & outdoor spaces |
| Wellness & Fitness Center | Physical rehab, gym, recovery | Full gym + rehab suite |
| Community Center | Events, gatherings, programs | 300+ capacity |
| Leadership Hub | Mentorship, career coaching | Classrooms & offices |
| Compounding Pharmacy Lab | Specialty medication compounding | USP 797/800 cleanroom |
| Home Infusion Clinic | IV therapy & clinical infusion | Treatment bays, licensed staff |
| Maintenance Building | Facility ops, storage, fleet | Workshop, warehouse, parking |
Community Model — How It Works
Storm Veterans Village operates on a wrap-around care model — every service a veteran needs is available on campus.
Housing First
Veterans are provided immediate stable housing. No preconditions. The room is the foundation from which everything else becomes possible.
Healing & Wellness
On-site healing center provides: Healing Frequency Room (sound healing with binaural beats, singing bowls, vibrational frequency equipment), Breathwork Studio (box breathing, Wim Hof, pranayama), Meditation & Mindfulness, Yoga & Movement therapy, Licensed Counseling & Therapy, and Group Healing Circles.
Nutrition & Farm-to-Table
Commercial kitchen serves 3 meals daily using produce from the on-site community farm. Culinary job training program for residents. Nutrition education and healthy eating programs.
Community & Purpose
Community farming provides agricultural therapy and a sense of purpose. Leadership and mentorship programs guide career transitions. Community center hosts events, town halls, movie nights, and veteran gatherings.
Family & Connection
Dedicated visitor center for family visits with children’s play area, private meeting rooms, and outdoor patio.
On-Site Clinical Services
Compounding Pharmacy Lab (USP 797/800 compliant cleanroom) producing custom specialty medications. Home Infusion Clinic providing IV therapy, TPN, and specialty drug infusions by licensed nurses and pharmacists — eliminating the need for off-site travel.
Facility Operations & Maintenance
Dedicated maintenance building and warehouse for building ops, equipment storage, grounds keeping, and fleet parking. Storm’s facility management team handles all HVAC, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, janitorial, landscaping, and emergency maintenance 24/7.
Engineering & IT Infrastructure
In-house civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering support for campus construction and ongoing needs. Network infrastructure, cybersecurity, telehealth capabilities, and campus-wide Wi-Fi on modern, secure systems.
Revenue Model & Sustainability
Revenue Streams
| Source | Description | Est. Annual |
|---|---|---|
| VA Per Diem ($85/bed/day) | 400 beds × $85 × 365 days | $12,410,000 |
| SSVF Grants | Supportive Services for Veteran Families | $400,000 |
| 501(c)(3) Donations | Tax-deductible charitable contributions | $300,000 |
| Pharmacy & Infusion | Compounding services, IV therapy billing | $800,000 |
| Farm Revenue | Farmers market sales, CSA subscriptions | $50,000 |
| Community Kitchen | Catering, events, cooking classes | $100,000 |
| Federal/State Grants | CDBG, HOME, IHDA | $500,000 |
| Total Estimated | $14,560,000 | |
Operating Costs (Estimated Annual)
| Category | Est. Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| Staff (63 FTE) | $2,800,000 |
| Utilities & maintenance | $600,000 |
| Food & kitchen operations | $500,000 |
| Program costs (healing, mentorship) | $300,000 |
| Insurance | $200,000 |
| Administrative & overhead | $250,000 |
| Pharmacy & infusion operations | $400,000 |
| Farm operations | $100,000 |
| Maintenance & warehouse | $150,000 |
| Total Estimated | $5,000,000 |
Net Operating Surplus: ~$9,560,000/year
Reinvested into programs, facility improvements, and expansion
Economic Impact to Blue Island
Direct Impact
- ✓60+ full-time jobs created locally
- ✓Hiring priority for Blue Island residents and veterans
- ✓$14.5M+ annual revenue flowing through the local economy
Indirect Impact
- ✓Increased foot traffic for Blue Island businesses
- ✓Family visitors spending at local shops and restaurants
- ✓Reduced strain on local emergency services
- ✓Property value stabilization through active development
Community Partnerships
- ✓Local restaurants partner on culinary training
- ✓Blue Island schools use the farm for field trips
- ✓Local businesses mentor veteran entrepreneurs
- ✓Community events open to all residents
Tax Revenue
- ✓Property improvements increase assessed value
- ✓Sales tax from on-site commercial operations
- ✓Payroll taxes from 63+ employees
Staffing Plan
| Role | Count | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Executive Director | 1 | Veteran, on-site |
| Program Director | 1 | Oversees all services |
| Case Managers | 8 | 1 per 50 residents |
| Licensed Counselors/Therapists | 4 | Mental health, PTSD, substance abuse |
| Healing Center Practitioners | 4 | Sound healing, breathwork, yoga |
| Kitchen Manager + Cooks | 6 | Commercial kitchen operations |
| Farm Manager + Workers | 4 | Farm operations, agricultural therapy |
| Maintenance & Facilities | 4 | Building upkeep |
| Security | 6 | 24/7 coverage |
| Administrative Staff | 4 | Front desk, intake, records |
| Mentorship Coordinators | 2 | Leadership programs |
| Visitor Center Staff | 2 | Family services |
| Peer Support Specialists | 4 | Veterans helping veterans |
| Pharmacists & Pharmacy Techs | 4 | Compounding lab & infusion clinic |
| Infusion Nurses (RN) | 3 | IV therapy & clinical infusion |
| Maintenance & Warehouse Staff | 4 | Building ops, grounds, fleet |
| IT Support | 2 | Network, systems, telehealth |
| Total | 63 |
Timeline
Phase 1: Approval
Months 1–3City council presentation, zoning approval, community input
Phase 2: Design
Months 3–6Architectural plans, contractor selection
Phase 3: Renovation
Months 6–18Building renovation, kitchen buildout, healing center, farm prep
Phase 4: Licensing
Months 15–18VA certifications, state licensing, HUD-VASH agreements
Phase 5: Soft Open
Month 18First 50 rooms, kitchen, basic programs
Phase 6: Full Open
Month 24All 200 rooms, full healing center, farm operational
Funding Strategy
Phase 1: Seed
- •Storm corporate investment
- •Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) grants
- •Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from Cook County
Phase 2: Construction
- •New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC)
- •Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC)
- •VA GPD Capital Grants
- •Bank financing (backed by HUD-VASH vouchers)
Phase 3: Operations
- •HUD-VASH vouchers (recurring)
- •VA Per Diem payments
- •SSVF grants
- •501(c)(3) fundraising and donations
Why Blue Island
- ✓Strategic South Suburbs location near VA facilities
- ✓Accessible by Metra and Pace public transit
- ✓Strong working-class values aligned with veteran culture
- ✓Available property for campus-style development
- ✓Opportunity to revitalize Vermont Street corridor
- ✓City leadership supporting community development
Why Storm
- ✓Veteran-owned and veteran-led
- ✓Registered C Corporation with SAM.gov
- ✓501(c)(3) nonprofit arm (Storm Foundation)
- ✓Existing capabilities in staffing, facility management, healthcare
- ✓Local presence — headquartered in the area
STORM
1725½ Vermont Street, Blue Island, IL
www.storm-va.com · contracts@storm-va.com
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned C Corporation | 501(c)(3) In Formation | SAM.gov Registered