Gov. Beshear signs bill to fund design of veterans nursing home in Bowling Green

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.- Gov. Andy Beshear signed legislation on Tuesday, paving the way for a veterans nursing home in Bowling Green.

The bill, HB24, which passed both the State House and Senate unanimously, provides $2.5 million for the design and preconstruction costs for the facility.

The Bowling Green location will be only the fifth veterans center in the state.

Once built, the nursing home will be located in the Kentucky Transpark on land donated by the city of Bowling Green according to the commander of the American Legion of Bowling Green Malcolm Cherry.

“The money that they approved today is for the entire study of the whole thing so it should be coming right away then. And then, the federal government still has to bring their money forth and we can get this going,” said Cherry.

Another veteran, Colonel John Smith, says an important part of the veteran’s center is that veterans are living with other veterans.

“Each person understands each other person’s needs, and they understand their circumstances, and they understand why they are staying at the veteran’s home,” said Smith.

Smith also says this veteran center will be important to the future of veterans and their families around South-central Kentucky.

At the bill signing, officials said they hope to break ground in the next year or so.