Vint Hill Chosen For New Veterans Care Center Site

Posted on June 9, 2016 by

The June 1 announcement that a new, state-funded long-term care and rehabilitation center will be built in Vint Hill is a major victory for Virginia’s armed services veterans. It also underscores Fauquier County’s ability to attract large businesses, and accelerates Vint Hill’s emergence as a diverse economic hub.

Virginia state officials chose Fauquier’s proposal over competitive bids from Prince William and Stafford counties. In the proposal, the county, the Vint Hill Economic Development Authority, and Vint Hill Village, LLC team up to offer the donated site, which sits at the intersection of Vint Hill Parkway and Route 215/Vint Hill Road.

The proposal underscored Fauquier’s commitment to veterans, which make up roughly 10% of the county’s population. County services for veterans include training and business ownership counseling—some of which is offered in Vint Hill, at Lord Fairfax Community College and the Fauquier Enterprise Center.

The county’s proposal also emphasized Vint Hill’s strengths as an emerging destination that is establishing a sense of place and purpose. “The attractively situated site is shovel-ready with all necessary infrastructure already in place,” the proposal noted, adding that existing and expected amenities at Vint Hill will provide much-needed support for residents and their families. “This community can offer a reassuring experience that supports and respects the dignity of all involved.”

The facility will be named the Puller Veterans Care Center, honoring a family legacy of military and public service that started with General Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller, one of the most decorated Marines in history, and a native Virginian.

“The new veterans care center will be a state-of-the-art facility providing skilled nursing care, Alzheimer’s/dementia care and short-term rehabilitative care,” Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe said. “The Northern Virginia region is home to over 200,000 veterans, the second largest concentration in the commonwealth, and we owe it to them and their families to build this new facility.”

While many details must still be finalized, the facility’s operator, the Virginia Department of Veterans Services, envisions multiple, residential-style buildings in a campus layout. The facility will accommodate about 120 residents and patients to start, with likelihood for future expansion.

The project has a budget of about $50 million and is expected to create 150 jobs. Construction is slated to start in 2017 and the facility is expected to open in late 2019.

Vint Hill will keep the community informed as more details on the Puller Center are finalized.