VA Awards $22 Million to Minneapolis Veterans Home Renovations, New Veterans Nursing Home Planned

WASHINGTON (May 11, 2010) - To ensure the Minnesota Veterans home in
Minneapolis remains a comfortable and safe residence for Veterans, the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is awarding two grants worth nearly
$22.4 million for a new 100-bed nursing home and other improvements.

"Our federal-state partnership helps to provide comfortable and safe
housing in a caring community for Minnesota Veterans who have served
their country," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.

VA's grants will cover 65 percent of the costs of the two projects.  The
Department has targeted $19.2 million for the new nursing home and $3.2
million to renovate facilities used by the adult day health care
program.

Last year, VA spent nearly $1.7 billion in Minnesota to serve the
state's 390,000 Veterans.  VA operates major medical centers in
Minneapolis and St. Cloud, with outpatient clinics and Vet Centers
across the state, plus a national cemetery at Ft. Snelling.

For more information about the Minneapolis Veterans home and related
Minnesota services for Veterans, visit www.mdva.state.mn.us
<http://www.mdva.state.mn.us/> .