Long-awaited construction of a veterans nursing home in Bowling Green has taken another step forward.
Governor Andy Beshear signed HB24 on Tuesday that appropriates $2.5 million for pre-construction on the nursing home.
The General Assembly approved $10.5 million in state bonds in 2017 to fund the project. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has committed $19.5 million, but the design work must be completed before the state can receive the federal funding. In a news conference at the state Capitol, Beshear said signing the bill was a way to show appreciation for veterans and their sacrifice.
"All of our veterans risked everything to protect their fellow Kentuckians, fellow Americans, and their brothers and sisters across the world," stated Beshear. "It is our turn to take care of them.”
The closest veterans nursing home to south-central Kentuckians is more than an hour away in Radcliff or Hanson. Once built, the Bowling Green facility would be Kentucky’s fifth veterans nursing home.
The proposed 90-bed facility will be located at the Kentucky Transpark. Ground could be broken as early as next summer on the Bowling Green facility. Once construction starts, it's expected to take about two years, barring unforeseen delays.
