Governor Pete Ricketts and other Nebraska officials gathered in Lincoln Thursday morning to commemorate Korean War Armistice Day and outline new Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs projects.
One project currently being developed is a “Welcome Home” packet for discharged service members, directing them to resources and support as they return home after their service.
There are now improved job search tools on the Nebraska veterans department website. The state is also expanding its eastern Nebraska veterans home in Bellevue.
A federal grant approved last month will add 24 assisted-living private rooms and convert 30 domiciliary beds to “skilled nursing” beds.
The state is also building a 12-unit adult daycare center that will help provide a bridge from independent living to assisted living before the veteran needs more comprehensive skilled nursing care.
If the expansion proves as successful as state officials hope, the next step will be replicating the course of services at its centers in Norfolk, Kearney, and Scottsbluff int he coming years.
The entire project is estimated to cost $9.3 million. 65% of those funds will come from the federal grant, and 35% will be paid for by the state.
Ricketts says the state’s project funds were already included in the budget that was approved by the legislature.
(Photo: das.nebraska.org)