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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Rob Ecklund (DFL)

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RELEASE: Rep. Ecklund applauds federal funding of new Minnesota veterans homes

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Governor Tim Walz and leadership from the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) have announced that all three of Minnesota’s proposed new State Veterans Homes projects, to be located in Bemidji, Montevideo, and Preston, will receive a total of $80 million in federal funding this year. The U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently released the State Home Construction Grants Fiscal Year 2021 Conditional Approvals. The federal dollars will leverage $33 million state lawmakers appropriated in the 2018 Capital Investment bill.

State Rep. Rob Ecklund (DFL – International Falls), who chairs the House Labor, Industry, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, applauded the federal funding.

“I’m extremely pleased to learn the federal funding will be available to make these three new veterans homes a reality. A great deal of planning has gone into preparation for these important projects which will enhance local communities and serve our veterans in three new regions in the state,” Rep. Ecklund said. “While I’m grateful for the hard work from federal, state, and local partners to achieve this outcome, I’m most grateful for the service of our dedicated service members who deserve quality places in which to live and receive care that these new homes will provide.”

The Bemidji and Montevideo homes will have 72 residential units each, and the Preston home will have 54 units.

Construction is on track to begin this fall. More information on the projects is available from the MDVA.