VA Awards Grant to Louisiana Veterans Home

VA Awards Grant to Louisiana Veterans Home

WASHINGTON – Making sure that Louisiana has comfortable residences for its veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is targeting $12.3 million in grant money to construct a new facility in Bossier City.

"This grant honors our commitment to care for the men and women who have served in uniform," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson. "Our federal-state partnership will provide a comfortable home for Louisiana’s veterans in a time of great personal need."

The grant will pay up to 65 percent of the costs for constructing a new 156-bed nursing home in Bossier City. Louisiana already operates veterans homes in Jackson, Jennings and Monroe.

In fiscal year 2005, VA expects to spend about $1 billion in Louisiana to serve more than 360,000 veterans who live in the state. The department operates major medical centers in Alexandria, New Orleans and Shreveport, as well as several outpatient clinics.

Information about the veterans homes in Louisiana is available on the Web at vetaffairs.com/vahomes. SOURCE: Department of Veterans Affairs # # # April 28, 2005