State Veterans Home Construction Grants: Up to $275M Available for Veteran Care Facilities

Major Federal Funding for State Veterans Facilities

State governments and tribal organizations have a significant opportunity to secure federal funding for veteran care facilities through the State Veterans Home Construction Grant Program. With awards ranging from $260,000 to $275 million, this Department of Veterans Affairs program helps build and renovate facilities that provide critical care for our nation's veterans.

What Types of Projects Qualify for Funding?

The VA funds several types of veteran care facility projects, including:

• New Home Construction: Building entirely new veteran care facilities from the ground up
• Bed Replacement: Replacing existing beds and associated infrastructure in current facilities
• Adult Day Health Care: Facilities that provide daytime care services for veterans
• Renovations: Updating and improving existing veteran facilities
• Life Safety Projects: Critical safety improvements to meet current building codes and standards

All projects must focus on State or Tribal-owned and operated Veterans Extended Care Facilities. The federal government will cover up to 65% of total project costs, meaning states and tribes must provide at least 35% in matching funds.

Application Requirements and Timeline

The application process varies depending on your project type. All applications require basic documentation including SF424 forms, budget justifications, needs assessments, and schematics. However, more complex projects need additional materials.

Required for All Applications

Every applicant must submit seven core items:

• Project scope documentation
• Standard federal forms (SF424, SF424D, SF424C)
• Budget justification worksheet that aligns with your SF424C budget form
• Governor's designation of authorized state official
• Needs assessment using VA Form 10-0388-1
• State clearinghouse comments for Executive Order 12372 compliance
• Facility schematics

Additional Requirements for Major Projects

Adult Day Health Care, Bed Replacement, and New Construction projects require six additional items beyond the basic seven. These include space program analysis forms, five-year capital plans, financial plans covering the first three years of operation, and documentation proving the facility will be fully occupied when complete.

Life Safety projects have a simpler requirement set but must include safety citations or letters explaining the need for improvements.

Critical Deadlines and Process

New grant applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by April 15th to be eligible for the Priority List for the next fiscal year. This deadline is firm and complete applications are required.

After submitting through Grants.gov, applicants receive automated confirmation and program staff will provide a FAI number and MAX.gov project page for additional submissions. Note that Grants.gov is only used for the initial application submission.

Buy America Requirements

This program falls under the Build America, Buy America Act (Public Law 117-58), which means strict domestic sourcing requirements apply. All iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials used in your project must be produced in the United States.

For manufactured products, at least 55% of component costs must come from items mined, produced, or manufactured domestically. These requirements apply to materials consumed in, incorporated into, or permanently affixed to the infrastructure project. Temporary items like scaffolding or movable furnishings are exempt.

Evaluation Criteria and Priorities

The VA evaluates applications based on published criteria in the full opportunity announcement, but also considers alignment with presidential and VA priorities. Applications that clearly advance veteran care excellence and expand service options receive preference.

The program specifically states it will not fund activities involving racial preferences, gender ideology promotion, immigration law violations, or any conduct that could bring the recipient or VA into public disrepute.

Getting Help with Your Application

Program staff encourage potential applicants to reach out before submitting if you need help understanding initial grant application requirements or general assistance. Given the complexity of requirements and substantial funding amounts involved, early communication with program staff can prevent costly application mistakes.

The governing regulation (38 CFR Part 59) contains detailed requirements that applicants should review thoroughly before starting their application process.

Why This Matters for Veterans

State veterans homes provide essential care for veterans who need extended care services but may not have access to VA medical centers in their area. These facilities fill a critical gap in the veteran care system, particularly in rural or underserved regions.

With proper funding, states can build modern facilities that meet current care standards and accommodate the changing needs of veteran populations. The substantial federal cost-sharing makes these projects financially feasible for states that might otherwise struggle to fund such large infrastructure investments.

Ready to explore this significant funding opportunity for your veteran care facility project? Create your free account on GovGrantsUSA today to access the complete application materials, track deadlines, and get expert guidance on preparing a competitive proposal for the State Veterans Home Construction Grant Program.