St. Paul, Minn. – The National Cemetery Administration (NCA) of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recently notified the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) of their plans to award a grant in FY 2021 to establish a State Veterans Cemetery in Redwood County. MDVA Commissioner Larry Herke responded to the NCA and accepted the grant offer.

The tentative grant amount is $5.9 million. “We appreciate the NCA’s support in expanding the State Veterans Cemeteries in Minnesota,” said Commissioner Herke. “This grant funding is an important first step in making this new cemetery a reality.”

Congressman Collin Peterson applauds the decision that would serve more than 22,000 Veterans, their spouses and eligible family members. As a Veteran of the National Guard and a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Peterson has worked on the federal level to secure this award.

“It is very important to me that those who have served our nation are honored throughout their lives and are laid to rest with the respect and appreciation they deserve,” Peterson said. “It’s taken over 10 years of relentless advocacy by many people and groups to get to this point. I’m honored that I could help in the effort to get federal funding for this important project.”

Acceptance of this grant opportunity begins a year-long process in design, planning and hopefully the final award of the grant dollars to MDVA at the start of federal fiscal year 2022, which begins October 1, 2021. MDVA is working with Redwood County officials to confirm the state’s ownership of the property as a first step.

While the process will take some time, MDVA Deputy Commissioner Brad Lindsay noted: “Thanks to the assistance and willingness of Redwood County to make this investment. It allows us to improve services to the Veterans of the State of Minnesota and their families.”

Peterson added, “I remain committed to supporting our Veterans and prioritizing projects like this and the Veterans Homes proposed for Minnesota. It’s why I sought my seat on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee.”

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About MDVA
The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) is a cabinet-level state agency dedicated to serving Minnesota Veterans and their families. In addition to overseeing the five State Veterans Homes, MDVA helps eligible Veterans and families secure state and federal benefits and provides programs and services relating to higher education, benefits, burial, claims, outreach and Veterans employment. Veterans and their families are encouraged to visit www.MinnesotaVeteran.org or call 1-(888)-LinkVet for more information about benefits.