On Tuesday, members of the Minnesota Legislative Advisory Commission sent a letter to Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) Commissioner Myron Frans approving the agency’s plans to spend pending federal grant funds for the construction of three veterans homes in Minnesota. Per state law, the Legislative Advisory Commission is authorized to review and grant requests by state agencies for the use of federal funds.

“Last year, the Minnesota Legislature provided the state’s share of funding for these three veterans homes. Securing federal funding is the last piece needed to get these veterans homes built,” said Senator Andrew Lang, vice chair of the Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy Committee. “The communities of Montevideo, Bemidji, and Preston have been working for over a decade to get these veterans homes across the finish line. We have an obligation to these communities – and more importantly, to our veterans – to get this done.”

In 2018, the legislature passed $32 million in state funding for the construction of new veterans homes in Bemidji, Montevideo, and Preston. Combined with local matching funds, the state’s contribution represents approximately 35 percent of the total construction costs.  In March, after extensive community input and fundraising, the state submitted its grant application to secure the remaining federal funds. The pre-design stage is currently underway for each planned home, with the homes expected to be fully operational and occupied by the end of 2021. The total cost for the Montevideo home is expected to be $48.5 million.

“The support of the communities has been just remarkable. These veterans homes are going to make a big difference across our state,” said Senator Lang.

Senator Andrew Lang, of Olivia, represents Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Renville, and Swift counties in the Minnesota Senate. He is vice chair of the Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy Committee.