BOWLING GREEN, KY. (May 10, 2024) – In November 2022 the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs (KDVA) broke ground on an 80k sq ft skilled nursing facility in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The $50M investment will create 120 new jobs and serve disabled veterans in the south central Kentucky region.
Today we celebrate progress on construction and thank our legislators for the $28M in operating funds allocated in this year’s session. This funding will provide much-needed services to our nation’s heroes in need of care in the area.
Senator Mike Wilson, Kentucky Senate, expressed his pride in the community's achievements, saying, "This project is a testament to our unwavering commitment to our veterans. The progress we celebrate today underscores our dedication to providing the highest standard of care to those who have served our nation."
The Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs currently has four other veterans centers across the Commonwealth that provide a wide range of amenities that differ from facility to facility. This new veterans center in Bowling Green will be the fifth in the state and will be located on 25 beautiful acres in the Kentucky Transpark. The other four are the 120-bed Carl M. Brashear Veterans Center in Radcliff, the 120-bed Eastern Kentucky Center in Hazard, the 156-bed Western Kentucky Center in Hanson, and the 285-bed Thomson-Hood Center in Wilmore.
Whitney Allen Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs (KDVA), stated “The KDVA family is excited about the progress of the Robert E. Spiller Bowling Green Veterans Center and its potential in serving our great veterans in the Bowling Green and Western Kentucky region for years to come.”
“We are thrilled to witness the significant strides being made in the development of the new Veterans Center,“ said Mark Bowman, Executive Director of the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs (KDVA). “This facility is not just a building; it is a commitment to honor and serve our veterans who have given so much. Every step forward in this project brings us closer to providing our veterans with the care and respect they richly deserve.”
Representative Michael Meredith, Kentucky House, remarked, "It is an honor to witness the growth and development of this crucial facility. Our veterans deserve our utmost respect and the best care we can provide. This celebration marks a pivotal step towards fulfilling our promise to them."
Judge-Executive Doug Gorman, Warren County, shared his thoughts: "Today, we gather not only to celebrate progress but also to reaffirm our commitment to our veterans. This facility will stand as a beacon of our community's gratitude and respect for their sacrifices."
Mayor Todd Alcott, City of Bowling Green, stated, "This facility represents our community’s dedication to giving back to those who have given so much. As we watch this project reach new heights, we are reminded of our duty to serve and honor our veterans just as they have honorably served us."
Ron Bunch, President and CEO of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, added, "As a veteran myself, seeing this project progress fills me with immense pride and gratitude. Our veterans have dedicated their lives to our safety and freedom; this facility is just one of the ways we can show our appreciation. We look forward to the completion of this home that will serve our heroes for generations to come."
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About the Kentucky Department of Veteran Affairs:
Governor Paul Patton established the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs (KDVA) in 1998. He charged the Department with helping veterans and their families obtain all federal, state, and local veterans benefits to which they are entitled. Kentucky began building a Department capable of significantly assisting Kentucky’s large veteran population. The Commonwealth of Kentucky is committed to providing long-term skilled nursing care facilities for Kentucky's veterans. Each facility has a compassionate and professional staff committed to providing thoughtful, quality care.
About South Central Kentucky Economic Development:
South Central Kentucky Economic Development is an entity of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, a nationally ranked 5-Star Accredited Chamber. Located at the center of a 34-state distribution area in the eastern United States, South Central Kentucky is a prime location for manufacturing, distribution, and emerging technology businesses. South Central Kentucky is within a day’s drive of 60% of the nation's population, personal income, and manufacturing businesses. Bowling Green ranks second in the United States for best manufacturing city. The Bowling Green/Warren County region has captured over six billion in capital investment in the past decade, with those companies creating more than twelve thousand new jobs. To learn more, please visit https://www.southcentralky.com/