 After receiving funding from the state, the Bemidji Veterans Home was another step closer to becoming reality with a face-to-face meeting with officials from three state agencies today. The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, Minnesota Management and Budgetive Department of Administrative Officials all met with local leaders to plot the next steps and lay out an aggressive timeline. These three agencies will guide Bemidji, Montevideo and Preston through the process of building their veterans homes. Right now, time is of the essence as fundraising moves into full swing. For every dollar that's raised, that's 35% of what is going to be for the facility and the federal government will give a 65% matching. So that is very crucial because construction costs are growing up all the time. So that almost two-for-one ratio is really critical. With a tight timeline, the hope is to hold the groundbreaking in October of 2019 with the Veterans Home opening its doors in May of 2021.