[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6634292,"mediaKeyId","2712651-f12c22bbf5a3735fec58bb930610646e","parentId",2712651,"title","DMVA outlines priorities: Selfridge runway work, veterans cemetery and childcare in tuition program","audioSeconds",1753,"startMs",230000,"endMs",1983000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2712651-f12c22bbf5a3735fec58bb930610646e&start=230&end=1983","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2712651-f12c22bbf5a3735fec58bb930610646e/thumbnail_230000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6634292/Michigan/DMVA-outlines-priorities-Selfridge-runway-work-veterans-cemetery-and-childcare-in-tuition-program","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634292-c4aef081764cc4e347ba5f557e1739f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137114&Signature=geo35X1CPvS8ITtsnTmsQ0~M51NpuZPGDrvWS-ULAtospDo2WzUYHGD6JeMSXnaxcvltoPvF2j5dL-AQy0pnTuX6puZ~aGe7-cQXOx506ywExlfbRFw2iStnklmkyOZ54VeagpzamrLdiqCfCTT3dCd4J0xfglwoiQmK-MeHxjmkCIpKHrKQvkzUwoPqYwR1m7GSSYS0W4dG~sT6kM68hSCqFCliHkP1szaBtjdqaCcrASNqjvf1ffEi~nbdRp8AQx9PaTbM2n1pSexdMtKfXfICqbnqHQ2vgmW0RAt-MC0ee73HVlTVzhwxz625DsRhvmojua6kBAxWIKY7FUN4TA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Michigan Legislature","date","2025-03-20T14:57:03.223Z","article","The Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) presented its fiscal 2026 priorities to a House subcommittee, highlighting a $26 million request to complete non-airfield work at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, a $5 million one-time state investment to acquire land and design a new state veterans cemetery, and a proposal to repurpose part of the Michigan National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program (MINGSTAP) to reimburse childcare costs for service members and their families.

Terry Sabo, deputy director of the DMVA, described the department as “wide reaching” and told lawmakers the agency supports roughly 11,000 personnel, about 95% of its authorized force, and has an estimated economic impact in Michigan of more than $1 billion, most of it federal funds. “Readiness is number one,” Sabo said, while also stressing the department’s community role and economic contributions.

Rochelle Bridal, the department’s chief financial officer, walked the committee through three fiscal priorities: (1) expanding MINGSTAP to reimburse reliable childcare without requesting new state funds, using existing state resources; (2) a $26 million FY'26 request to complete the non-airfield phase of a Selfridge Air National Guard Base project meant to address runway clear-zone compliance and secure future fighter missions; and (3) a $5 million, one-time state investment to acquire land and pay design and engineering costs for a new Michigan Veterans Cemetery in Crawford County.

On Selfridge, agency witnesses said the overall project cost varies by scope but is in the neighborhood of $100 million; the $26 million sought for FY'26 would fund non-airfield phase work so construction could begin. Sabo explained the runway work involves shortening the south end and extending the north end to restore required clearances after a federal waiver was withdrawn about a decade ago. Bridal called the Selfridge work “critical for the department to start construction” so the state can secure future federal missions and investment.

On childcare, Bridal said the childcare proposal would be built into the existing state tuition-assistance program and would not require additional state funding. She cited a department survey showing about 40% of Army National Guard families and 30% of Air National Guard families struggle to find reliable childcare and argued reimbursement would help retention and readiness.

The department also reviewed earlier investments. Sabo said the legislature previously appropriated $55 million for a statewide armory modernization program that leveraged federal funds and upgraded dozens of armories, improving facilities for a more diverse force. He described Camp Grayling’s Northern Strike exercise and other training investments as major contributors to readiness and economic activity.

The Michigan Veterans Homes system was discussed: Grand Rapids was modernized in 2021, Chesterfield recently opened a new facility, and the Jacobetti (Jacob Eddy) home in Marquette is slated to be replaced with a newly purchased site and a planned groundbreaking in spring. Bridal said land for the Marquette replacement has been acquired and planning is underway.

Bridal said the proposed veterans cemetery investment would support access for a large veteran population: “There are over an estimated over 50,000 veterans within 75 miles of the proposed cemetery site in Crawford County,” she said, and forecasted nearly 200 eligible interments per year, translating to more than 1,000 over the next decade. The department said the state investment would enable pursuit of federal grants for construction and maintenance.

Committee members asked for additional details and timelines. Sabo invited members to visit Northern Strike and noted the department would provide more information as designs and federal partnerships advance.

The presentation preceded more extensive questioning on a separate issue: the county veteran service grant recalculation and its immediate impacts on counties and veterans’ services.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military and Veterans Affairs - 3/20/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs asked a House subcommittee for a $26 million FY'26 appropriation for non-airfield work at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, a $5 million one-time state investment to acquire and design a new veterans cemetery, and proposed expanding tuition-assistance funds to reimburse childcare for Guard members using existing resources.","taxTitle","2025 House Legislature MI, Michigan","taxId",77683,"location","Michigan","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6634296,"Counties and lawmakers press state after recalculation cuts veteran service grants",1869,2683000,4552000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2712651-f12c22bbf5a3735fec58bb930610646e&start=2683&end=4552","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2712651-f12c22bbf5a3735fec58bb930610646e/thumbnail_2683000.jpg","/articles/6634296/Michigan/Counties-and-lawmakers-press-state-after-recalculation-cuts-veteran-service-grants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634296-e27bf87864ec24bce02e9116e6ca56e1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137114&Signature=KBEyVrRh1RnYLPJ22s5OvYDya9EOuFfVUvZRb-Ar9vmx6xy2QvPeg2C5Yq1ABr9ir4A487M2I4myq5LP8r88Gs6RB0457t9~1IrK-0TAcdHrVxfE6dZ1D4-sF8op4wzWkWtnKKUlhY~CWFSXc4n~gcE2od-QFsHuNtFaK~auYpYz8Ltui4CSp~2TBfOJOTtsEdwRLAIwgWGzgzYcnPecoFOFdsouGXeo4V4gQPVRBYCuUCL2k9vN1OAIIIm21x-N8le0Usl7mRx45WSo--tQ7MdYyBCaprLZgOeWxkNPCX~zBhiIhdkwcS1UG78YWWnhfXyd9~NP1Sqo7zpyiumiag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County veteran service officers and several state representatives pressed the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) and the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) at a House subcommittee hearing after a department recalculation reduced the projected county veteran service grant fund and forced counties to amend or resubmit grant budgets under a self-imposed 5 p.m. amendment deadline.

The discrepancy arose after the DMVA recalculated available fund balances for fiscal 2025. Counties said they received allocation letters in May and were not told those allocation numbers were projections; a later recalculation communicated on Feb. 18 reduced the available pool to about $5.1 million, leaving a shortfall counties and advocates identified as roughly $3.66 million compared with earlier figures counties had been using in planning.

The difference had immediate consequences for local veteran services. Amy Pocan, director of the Ingham and Clinton County Department of Veteran Affairs, told the committee: “At that point in time, no information was provided to us that these were projections. The allocations had always been told that these are the actual numbers we would be receiving, and we went forward.” Pocan said counties have already signed contracts and hired or planned staff based on the original allocations and that cuts have threatened accredited county veteran service officer positions, emergency assistance funds and outreach programs.

DMVA and MVAA officials said the change reflected faster and wider use of grant dollars. Rochelle Bridal, chief financial officer for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, told lawmakers the program’s participation rose from roughly 35 counties to about 70 counties and that higher utilization in the final quarter reduced the previously projected fund balance. Bridal said the department “wants to do better” and is reviewing internal processes.

Brian Love, director of the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, said the agencies notified counties as soon as they recognized the shortfall and have begun meeting individually with county veteran service directors. “None of us are happy about this,” Love said. He told the committee MVAA held an information session for county grantees, followed by one-on-one meetings, and that staff are assisting counties with recalculations and amendments.

Lawmakers pushed the agencies for immediate relief and greater transparency. Representative Morgan said some counties in her district face cuts of 61%, 63% and 76%, totaling roughly $1 million across three counties. Representative Rogers urged the committee to consider legislative options to make counties whole for this year and asked DMVA to present a concrete plan to prevent recurrence.

Committee members also questioned the department’s timeline and the origin of the earlier, larger projection. Bridal said the May projection used prior underutilization trends; when counties increased participation and spending accelerated, the projection no longer held. Committee members pressed for documentation, and for a clear explanation of how the state had communicated allocations to counties.

On the administrative deadline, several legislators urged the department to extend the self-imposed 5 p.m. amendments deadline for fiscal year 2026 applications. MVAA officials said they would work with counties that missed the deadline on a case-by-case basis and indicated they were open to extending the window; the agency said there would be no automatic penalties for short, late submissions while it works with affected counties.

County and veterans-service advocates asked for more than an administrative fix. Tim Poxton of the American Legion’s Michigan legislative committee advised the committee that the grant program supports 70 accredited service officers and that cuts have already forced nonprofits to reduce services. Several representatives requested a plan for a stopgap and for consideration of making counties whole for the current year while the agencies reform their internal controls.

The DMVA said it has formed a finance work group that combines the department’s finance and county grants teams and will meet regularly until processes are corrected. The agencies told the committee they will continue direct outreach to counties and provide additional guidance for recalculations and amendments.","County veteran service officers and several state representatives pressed the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs after a department recalculation reduced expected county allocations from the county veteran service grant program, prompting a self-imposed 5 p.m. amendment deadline and urgent requests for relief.","actionData","errors"]

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DMVA outlines priorities: Selfridge runway work, veterans cemetery and childcare in tuition program

Counties and lawmakers press state after recalculation cuts veteran service grants