Oregon State Rep. Greg Smith (R-Heppner) voted to approve the submission of a federal State Home Construction Grant application to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in the amount of $2,805,305 for renovation of the Oregon Veterans’ Home in The Dalles.
Planned upgrades include basic maintenance and updating or replacing high traffic areas and fixtures, including flooring, lighting, new paint, wall coverings; upgrades to resident rooms and nurses stations; the remodeling of nutrition centers and rehabilitation areas; and, the replacement of furniture.
“The Oregon Veterans’ Home in The Dalles is important to our region and our state,” said Smith. “Not only is this upgrade fiscally prudent, it allows us to take better care of those that served our country and state.”
The State Home Construction Grant program requires a match rate of 35 percent of state funds, which equates to $1.5 million. ODVA’s match would be met with fund generated from the Veterans’ Home program. ODVA does not expect the match requirement to result in any significant increase in resident rates. In addition, the federal grant provides an opportunity to recoup the majority of the costs associated with these items. The total anticipated budget is $4.3 million.
Smith serves as the co-vice chair of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, which approved the recommendation unanimously.
