A grant of up to $1,537,769 to the state of montana for the expansion of the western montana state veterans cemetery in missoula, montana

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration awarded $1.54M to the State of Montana's Department of Military Affairs on September 5, 2025, under the Veterans Cemetery Grants Program (CFDA 64.203) to expand the Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery in Missoula. The project will deliver critical cemetery infrastructure improvements including 820 columbarium niches for cremated remains, roadway improvements, landscaping enhancements, and irrigation systems. These improvements will expand burial service capacity for more than 17,000 veterans and eligible family members currently served by the facility. The project is scheduled for completion by September 30, 2028.

The Veterans Cemetery Grants Program provides federal funding to states, territories, counties, and federally recognized tribal governments to establish, expand, and improve veterans' cemeteries in geographic areas where the VA's national cemetery system cannot fully meet burial demand. All funded projects must comply with VA standards and Build America, Buy America Act requirements. This award represents one of numerous fiscal year 2025 grants awarded under the program, which has distributed over $1.187 billion across 525 grants since 1980, supporting the development of 124 veterans' cemeteries nationwide.

The cemetery serves more than 17,000 veterans and their eligible family members in the region. The grant will fund 820 columbarium niches, roadway, landscaping, and irrigation.