VA Releases List of $1.3 Billion in Stimulus Projects

The Dept. of Veterans Affairs has released its list of about 1,000 projects, totaling nearly $1.3 billion, that it plans to carry out using funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The vast majority of the projects on VA's list, dated April 2 and 3, are small, with many of them pegged at less than $1 million each.

Under the economic-stimulus statute, the VA funds are available until Sept. 30, 2010.

The projects are in three categories, the largest of which is $1.086 billion for 965 "non-recurring maintenance" and energy-related projects at VA facilities around the country. Energy-related projects, including heating ventilation and air conditioning upgrades, renewable-energy installations and metering, account for $399.1 million of that total. Interior renovations is another large item, with 276 projects, totaling $299.5 million.

In addition, the stimulus measure gives VA $150.9 million for construction or expansion of extended-care facilities. VA lists 49 extended-care projects. The largest are: an $18.7-million expansion in Tucson; $17.1 for an expansion at a Spring City, Pa., facility; and a $12.6-million project in Ogden, Utah.

The third VA category is $50 million for project at national cemeteries. Work on roads, paving and cemetery grounds account for $8.4million of that VA's stimulus web page lists expenditure plans and a state-by-state breakdown of the projects for each of the three categories.