CLEVELAND, Tenn. – A Southeast Tennessee veterans’ nursing home has moved into the top 10 places for new construction on the U.S. Veterans Administration list.
The council charged with bringing the home to reality also has been approved as a charitable organization by the Internal Revenue Service.
On the VA’s fiscal year 2011 priority list for pending home construction, Pell, Ala., ranks No. 1. But second through 40th place on the list are solely renovations to existing homes across the country. Another new project in Montgomery County, Tenn., ranks 41st on the list. Bradley County ranks 49th.
But Joe Davis, veterans affairs specialist at the Bradley County Veterans Services Office, told the Southeast Tennessee Veterans Nursing Home Council on Thursday that federal funds have not been released for the fiscal year that began October 2010.
“Most of the dollars will be eaten up by the renovations and upgrades,” said Cid Heidel, co-chairman. “But I am encouraged. We are moving upward.”
“We have all the ingredients in place. So we are just waiting in line for the funds to filter through,” said Co-chairman Mark Hall, a Bradley County commissioner.
IRS approval to be classified a 501-c-3 organization opens up funding from donors who will want tax exemptions for charitable organizations, Heidel said.
In the meantime, Davis said, Montgomery and Bradley counties are teaming up to ensure the state Legislature provides startup funding, about $3 million in Bradley’s case.
Larry McDaris, Bradley veterans service organization director, said each year the VA list can look differently.
Heidel said there can be “some leap-frogging.”
A representative for U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischman also attended Thursday’s council meeting.