The current D.J.Jacobetti Home for Veterans is pictured. Michigan lawmakers announced that the construction of a new facility to accommodate 100 veterans will be fully funded through state and federal sources. (Journal file photo)

By DREYMA

BERONJA

Journal Staff Writer

MARQUETTE — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Wednesday that after securing state and federal funding, the Marquette Veterans Home is fully funded to serve 100 veterans.

“Michiganders who served our nation in uniform deserve access to safe, affordable housing and I am proud that we have secured funding to build a new veterans home in the (Upper Peninsula),” Whitmer said in a press release. “This new facility will offer quality long-term care for veterans in the (Upper Peninsula) and ensure they get access to the resources they need to thrive. I am grateful to the (Veterans Affairs) and state legislators on both sides of the aisle for their efforts to get this done. Let’s keep working together to support our veterans.”

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs State Veterans Home Construction Grant Program provided $63.4 million in fiscal year 2023 funding for the construction of a new state veterans home to replace the D.J. Jacobetti home.

“This news means we can continue providing for our veterans well into the future, and that’s something we can all be grateful for,” state Representative Jenn Hill, D-Marquette, said in a press release. “I’m eager to see the new facility take shape as an important fixture of the Marquette community.”

The total investment for this project is $97.6 million consisting of $63.4 million in federal and $34.2 million in state funding, according to the press release. The state of Michigan included $34.2 million in funding for the project in its 2022-2023 budget.

According to the press release, the new home will have a similar design to Michigan Veteran Homes in Chesterfield Township and Michigan Veteran Homes in Grand Rapids. The home will incorporate practices of home-like long-term care design and construction.

“With the funding provided by both the (Veterans Affairs) and the state of Michigan, we are excited to move forward with selection of a location for the new home, which will continue to offer the same essential long-term care services to our Upper Peninsula veterans that we have provided for over 40 years,” Michigan Veteran Homes Executive Director Anne Zerbe said in a press release.

Zerbe said construction will begin late spring or early summer of next year and could take up to 36 months to complete.

“This (construction) shouldn’t impact our current operations at all,” Zerbe said. “We’re going to continue to serve veterans in our existing building during the construction time period and then once that construction is done, we will be moving our existing residents over to the new building.”

The new home will serve more than 100 veteran members who will live in three neighborhood buildings. Each veteran member will have their own bedroom and bathroom with common gathering and kitchen spaces.

The neighborhoods will connect to a community center with clinical and therapeutic services and amenities such as a barbershop, salon and cafe bistro.

Members will also have access to a large great room for full member and community meetings and outdoor courtyards and green spaces, according to the press release.

“We weren’t sure how long it would be before we received the federal funding and it turned out we received it less than a year after we finalized our application,” Zerbe said. “So (it is) exciting to know that we’ve set everything up where we can continue to provide services to veterans of the up moving forward for the foreseeable future.”

For more information on Michigan Veterans Homes visit michigan.gov/mvh.

Dreyma Beronja can be reached at 906-228-2500 ext. 548. Their email address is dberonj@miningjournal.net.