NLR site selected for new veterans home

The director of the state Department of Veterans Affairs has selected North Little Rock as the location for a new state veterans home after the previous home in Little Rock closed in 2012.

Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs Director Cissy Rucker chose a site across from Fort Roots in North Little Rock following recommendations by members of the Arkansas Veterans Commission in January, the department said in a statement Tuesday.

In the commission's Jan. 21 meeting, Commission Chairman Bob Schoenborn said the North Little Rock site was his leading recommendation if the Department of Veterans Affairs could secure the property from the federal government, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette previously reported.

The 52.7-acre tract is currently occupied by the nine-hole Emerald Park Golf Course and leased to the city. Two sites in Jacksonville and one in Searcy were also on the short list of about 20 proposed locations throughout the state.

Federal grant funding was approved Monday, and contractor bidding for the project will begin later this year, according to the news release. It's unclear when construction on the new home will begin.

Read more in Wednesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

photo

Google Maps

This Google Maps image shows the location of the new veterans home selected Tuesday.

Upcoming Events