The Puller Veterans Care Center will have its groundbreaking ceremony on October 26.
The latest information on the project was shared by Delegate Rich Anderson at a meeting of the Veterans Council for the Prince William Chamber of Commerce.
Read more about the veterans care center here.
Anderson was one of the elected officials to carry the bill, and he shared insight on what the center will be able to do for elderly veterans that have served in the United States military.
“I think the name is somewhat misleading – Virginia veterans care center – it does not do outpatient care, it is more like a veterans home. Think about a permanent residence, for veterans, who need intensive care. But there is also a mission included where they can do transitional work within individuals,” said Anderson.
Virginia ultimately selected a property in the Vint Hill area of Fauquier County on the Prince William-Fauquier line, after the locality donated the land for the project, which was a requirement, according to Anderson.
Virginia electeds also worked out a deal for the state to pay for the veterans care centers currently being built, hoping that at some point the federal government will reimburse them.
“Because we’re doing this on our own, we downsized the scope of the project and it’s going to be 120 residents who are there, but we have expansion capabilities for building out,” versus the standard 240-bed facility, said Anderson.
One part of the facility that Anderson highlighted was the dementia unit.
“It’s constructed in such a way that the residents are able to go outdoors in a protected courtyard, and there’s no risk of their leaving the facility,” said Anderson.
The care center will take two years to build, with an opening slated for 2019.
“It not only creates 120 billets, if you will, for the residents, but it also creates about 150 jobs in the area, and it is also economic stimulus for the area,” said Anderson.
The groundbreaking will take place at 1 p.m. at the site of the project.
