West Tennessee Veterans' Nursing Home in Arlington gets $38 million grant from VA
The Department of Veterans Affairs has awarded a final grant of more than $38 million to the State of Tennessee, funding which will go toward the cost of new construction of the West Tennessee Veterans' Nursing Home in Arlington.
“This announcement is a major accomplishment for veterans in West Tennessee. The West Tennessee Veterans' Nursing Home, a 126-bed facility in Arlington, Tennessee, will be a lifeline for our veterans and their families,” said U.S. Rep. David Kustoff in a written statement.
The facility has been in the works for years, with both the master and site plan approved in 2021. The 126-bed facility will be built on 28.65 acres of land just south of the Tennessee Developmental Center at 5240 Elm Park Street.
With a neighborhood design, each house will consist of 18 private rooms with courtyards and dining spaces. The home will also have a community center with a bistro, a large activity space and a therapy gym.
“We are deeply grateful to the nearly half-million veterans living in Tennessee today,” said Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee in a written statement. “This new facility will ensure accessible, high-quality care for veterans who call West Tennessee home, and I thank the local, state and federal partners who worked to bring this tremendous resource to Arlington and the surrounding communities.”
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Although Shelby County has more veterans than any other county in Tennessee, the closest Tennessee State Veterans' Home is in Humboldt, in Gibson County.
“We couldn’t be any happier to see the West Tennessee Veterans Home finally begin construction after so many years," said Arlington Mayor Mike Wissman in a written statement. "Communities and volunteers from nearby counties all helped through a grass roots campaign to help fund the local portion, and Arlington is fortunate to be the location to help take much needed care of so many veterans in the region. We look forward to eventually welcoming the staff and residents of the home and making them feel like a part of the Arlington family."
The tentative groundbreaking date is in March, Wissman said.
Shelby County Commissioner Amber Mills, who represents Arlington, said the project has been a collaboration of community stakeholders in Shelby County and surrounding counties.
The total project cost is $68.4 million.
“I am so pleased to join Congressman Kustoff and all the citizens of West Tennessee in celebrating the news from the Department of Veterans Affairs announcing federal assistance for new construction of the West Tennessee Veterans Home in Arlington," Mills said. "I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to better the lives of our veterans in Shelby County."
Katherine Burgess covers county government and religion. She can be reached at katherine.burgess@commercialappeal.com, 901-529-2799 or followed on Twitter @kathsburgess.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: West Tennessee Veterans Nursing Home in Arlington gets $38M grant
