WASHINGTON – Veterans in Hawaii will have greater access to long-term health care, thanks to a $20 million grant awarded today by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to construct a new state veterans home in Hilo.

“This grant honors our commitment to care for the men and women who have served in uniform,” said the Honorable R. James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs.  “Our federal-state partnership will provide a comfortable home for Hawaii veterans in a time of personal need.”

The $20,051,460 grant will pay up to 65 percent of the cost to construct a new 95-bed veterans home and adult day care center in Hilo.  Overall cost of the project is estimated at $32 million.

This year, VA expects to spend nearly $332 million in Hawaii to serve about 115,000 veterans who live in the state.  The VA medical center in Honolulu provides outpatient, mental health and dental care to state veterans, with inpatient care offered at Tripler Army Medical Center.

Further information about Hawaii state benefits for veterans is available on the Internet at http://www.dod.state.hi.us/ovs

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Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov

Veterans with questions about their health care and benefits (including GI Bill). Questions, updates and documents can be submitted online.

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