Veterans Cemetery Grants Program - General Information
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Cemetery Grants Program was established in 1978 to complement VA’s National Cemetery Administration.The program assists states and federally recognized tribal governments in providing gravesites for Veterans in those areas where VA’s national cemeteries cannot fully satisfy their burial needs. Grants may be used only for the purpose of establishing, expanding or improving Veterans cemeteries that are owned and operated by a state, federally recognized tribal government, or U.S. territory. Aid can be granted only to states, federally recognized tribal government, or U.S. territories. VA cannot provide grants to private organizations, counties, cities or other government agencies.
VA can now provide up to 100 percent of the development cost for an approved project. For establishment of new cemeteries, VA can provide for operating equipment. VA does not provide for acquisition of land. The value of the land cannot be considered as an "allowable cost" under the grant. States are solely responsible for acquisition of the necessary land. Tribal governments cemeteries must be on tribal trust land. Any state, territory, or tribal government ceasing to own or operate a cemetery established, expanded or improved through the use of grant funds, or using the funds for any other purpose than for which the grant was made will be liable for the total refund of all grants made for that cemetery. Federal funds can also be suspended or withdrawn for noncompliance with the terms and conditions of the grant.
Cemeteries established under the grant program must conform to the standards and guidelines pertaining to site selection, planning and construction prescribed by VA. Cemeteries must be operated solely for the burial of service members who die on active duty, veterans, and their eligible spouses and dependent children. Any cemetery assisted by a VA grant must be maintained and operated according to the operational standards and measures of the National Cemetery Administration.
The administration, operation, and maintenance of a VA-supported state cemetery is solely the responsibility of the state or tribal government. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is authorized to pay a plot or interment allowance (not to exceed $300) to a state or tribal government for expenses incurred by the state in the burial of eligible Veterans in a cemetery owned and operated by the state if the burial is performed at no cost to the Veteran's next-of-kin. This benefit is administered by the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) and the state must apply to VBA to receive it.
VA's Veterans Cemetery Grant Program is designed to complement VA's 131 national cemeteries across the country. The Veterans Cemetery Grants Program helps states, federally recognized tribal governments, or U.S. Territories establish new Veterans cemeteries, expand, or improve existing veterans cemeteries. To date, the VA program has helped establish, expand, or improve 79 state Veterans cemeteries in 38 states and territories to include Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam, which provided nearly 28,000 burials in fiscal year 2010. VA has awarded grants totaling more than $438 million.
View a list of Veterans Cemeteries.
