While some veterans have a place to stay in Chippewa Falls, some say the current home at the Northern Wisconsin Center doesn't have the skilled care facility necessary for today's veterans.

"There was an idea to expand the facilities at the Northern Center to about a 75 to 100 unit bed, to prepare to give our veterans the assistance they definitely need and deserve," says Charlie Walker of the Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation.

A state Web site says the project could cost $15.8 million.

Walker says he expects the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to cover most of the cost.

The Mayor of Chippewa Falls says this location could have some eventual cost-saving benefits in the long run.

"The prison is across from there, they have a joint laundry facility so there might be opportunities too for meals,” says Mayor Greg Hoffman.

Hoffman and Walker say many veterans who live near Chippewa Falls would have better access to healthcare with the new center.

"The veterans' families have about two hour drives in either direction to get any assistance. If we can provide those services here, it can stop some of that migration and keep some of the finances here,” says Walker.

They say while the current buildings and services on the site would remain the same, the new expanded home could create more jobs for the area.

"There's a bunch of empty buildings that the state currently owns. By revitalizing those empty buildings, it makes it a win-win situation,” says Walker.

Mike Haley at the Chippewa County Veterans’ Affairs office says the main hold up for the veteran's home expansion project could be a lack of federal funding.

Hoffman says he hopes the center will be completed by 2012.