St. Paul, Minn. – Aging Veterans and other eligible family members from Bemidji and the surrounding region may have a new option for residential skilled nursing care by 2022. For more than 12 years, local officials and Veterans’ advocates have lobbied for the addition of a new Minnesota State Veterans Home in their community. Plans are moving forward, according to officials from the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA).

Bemidji is one of three Minnesota cities pursuing a future Minnesota Veterans Home. The Bemidji project received a boost with Sanford Health’s donation of 15 acres on the grounds of their Northern Minnesota campus. In 2018, the Minnesota Legislature allocated $12.4 million toward the cost of the project which will be funded by a combination of federal-granted (65 percent), state-bonded and pending community-provided monies (35 percent). In March of this year, MDVA submitted an application for Federal funds from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; that funding will not be confirmed until early 2020.

While Federal funds are not guaranteed, there is optimism among the planning team. “MDVA looks forward to approval of our Federal funding request and breaking ground on this new Veterans Home next year,” said Douglas Hughes, Deputy Commissioner for Veterans Healthcare, MDVA. 

The project is a group effort. “We greatly appreciate the involvement of the many communities, organizations and individuals who have donated toward this very important project,” stated Scotty Allison, Veterans Service Officer for Beltrami County. 

Kay Mack, Beltrami County Administrator, added: “The Veterans Home Committee is grateful to Beltrami County for their very generous donation to the Bemidji Veterans Home. All the donations have made a big impact on the design and what we will be able to provide Veterans.”

Representatives from MDVA, the Minnesota Department of Administration and the architecture/engineering firms of Wold and Perkins Eastman visited Bemidji on May 14 to provide an update. Local leaders were eager to learn more about the proposed Veterans Home and how their fall 2018 feedback was incorporated into the facility’s design.

The Bemidji Home’s design reflects a North woods cabin feel for the public spaces that include a Town Center featuring a small coffee shop/cafe, theater/meeting room, family dining room, meditation room/chapel, and club room. The 72 residential units are split into two sections and four “neighborhoods,” avoiding long institutional-feeling hallways.

Other local officials invited to the May 14 meeting included Craig Gray, Director of Public Works, City of Bemidji; Sam Anderson, Assistant City Engineer, City of Bemidji; Casey Mai, Planning Director, City of Bemidji; Scotty Allison, Veterans Service Officer, Beltrami County; Kay Mack, Administrator, Beltrami County; Joe Vene, Former Commissioner, Beltrami County, and U.S. Army Veteran; Jim Lucachick, Commissioner, Beltrami County; and Richard Anderson, Commissioner, Beltrami County. 

Construction on the Veterans Home will be led by a general contractor which will strive to hire a significant percentage of sub-contractors from the local community. The new Minnesota Veterans Homes will also support the local economies long-term by offering employment opportunities to those who share the MDVA mission to care for Veterans. 

Reflected Joe Vene: “It has been a long time coming. A lot of work by many people over the years is about to pay off. I can’t wait until construction begins!”

For more information, visit the MDVA website. 

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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.