Veterans Cemetery Grants Program

The Veterans Cemetery Grants Program assists states, territories, counties, and federally recognized tribal governments in the establishment, expansion, and improvement of veterans' cemeteries.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Cemetery Grants Program was established in 1978 to complement VA's national cemeteries. The program assists states, territories, counties, and federally recognized tribal governments in providing gravesites for Veterans in those areas where NCA cannot fully satisfy their burial needs.

Federally Recognized lndian Tribal Governments, States and eligible County Governments. States (means each of the States, Territories, and possessions of the United States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico); Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments.; Eligible Counties may apply. 38 USC 2408.

The cemetery must be used for the interment of veterans, their wives, husbands, surviving spouses, minor children, and unmarried adult children who were physically or mentally disabled and incapable of self-support: 38 CFR 38.620. The cemetery may be used for the interment of former members of reserve components of the Armed Forces, including members of the Army National Guard or Air National Guard, and their eligible dependents: 38 USC 2408 (i)(2).

Construction/Renewal/Rehabilitation Monetary assistance is provided under this program to establish, expand, and improve State, eligible County, or Tribal government veterans' cemeteries. Cemeteries must be State or Tribal Government owned and operated solely for the interment of eligible veterans and their dependents and/or spouses. Construction cost means the amount of funds necessary to convert a tract of land to an operational Veterans cemetery. *Tribal Government refers to federally recognized tribal governments.

Construction/Renewal/Rehabilitation Monetary assistance is provided under this program to establish, expand, and improve State, eligible County, or Tribal government veterans' cemeteries. Cemeteries must be State or Tribal Government owned and operated solely for the interment of eligible veterans and their dependents and/or spouses. Construction cost means the amount of funds necessary to convert a tract of land to an operational Veterans cemetery. *Tribal Government refers to federally recognized tribal governments.

Funds are provided by electronic transfer of funds and must be used within 3 years.

Other information: Tribal and eligible County applicants should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in their county, or tribe for more information on the process required to be followed in applying for assistance, if the county, or tribe has selected the program for review.

Submit Standard Form 424 (through Grants.gov), "Application for Federal Assistance for Construction Programs", including all necessary assurances and all required supporting documentation, to the Director, Veterans Cemetery Grants Program (41C), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20420. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards apply to this program. Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) for this listing will be posted on Grants.gov.

Selecting preapplications for this federal grant follows 38 CFR part 39.3 (b) and (c) to prioritize preapplications that are received on or before July 1 of each year. Preapplications that are conforming to the standards in 38 CFR part 39.31 or 39.81 are ranked in their priority order within the applicable Priority Groups 1 through 4. The definitions of the Priority Groups in 38 CFR part 39.3 are explained in § 39.3 Priority list. Within Priority Groups 1, 2, and 3, highest priority will be given to projects in geographical locations with the greatest number of veterans who will benefit from the project as determined by VA. Within Priority Group 1, at the discretion of VA, higher priority may be given to a project that must be funded that fiscal year to avoid disruption in burial service. Grants for projects within Priority Group 4 will be awarded in any fiscal year only after grants for all project applications under Priority Groups 1, 2, and 3 that are ready for funding have been awarded. No more than $10 million in any fiscal year will be awarded for Operation and Maintenance Projects under Priority Group 4. By October 1 of each year, VA will make a list prioritizing all preapplications that were received on or before July 1 of that year and that were approved under § 39.31 or § 39.81, ranking them in their order of priority within the applicable priority group for funding during the fiscal year.

§ 39.35 Final review and approval of application. Following VA approval of bid tabulations and cost estimates, VA will review the complete Establishment, Expansion, Improvement, and Operation and Maintenance Project grant application for approval in accordance with the requirements of § 39.30 or § 39.30. If the application is approved, the grant will be awarded by a Memorandum of Agreement of Federal grant funds.

A deadline of July 1st is established for the submittal of applications in the year prior to the fiscal year in which funding is requested. If submitted after July 1st, 2025, funding will be considered in 2026.

Upon receipt of a complete preapplication for a grant, including all necessary assurances and all required supporting documentation, VA will determine whether the preapplication conforms to all requirements listed in paragraphs (a) through (d) of 38 CFR 39.81, including whether it contains sufficient information necessary to establish the project's priority. VA will notify the State or Tribal Organization of any nonconformity. If the preapplication conforms, VA shall notify the State or Tribal Organization that the preapplication has been found to meet the preapplication requirements, and the proposed project will be included in the next scheduled ranking of projects, as indicated in § 39.3(d).

§ 39.6 Amendments to grant application. A State or Tribal Organization seeking to amend a grant application must submit revised Standard Forms 424 (Application for Federal Assistance) and 424C (Budget Information) with a narrative description of, and justification for, the amendment. Any amendment of an application that changes the scope of the application or increases the amount of the grant requested, whether or not the application has already been approved, shall be subject to approval by VA in the same manner as an original application.

§ 39.9 Hearings. (a) No application for a grant under this part shall be disapproved until the applicant has been afforded an opportunity for a hearing. (b) Whenever a hearing is requested under this section, notice of the hearing, procedure for the conduct of such hearing, and procedures relating to decisions and notices shall accord with the provisions of §§ 18.9 and 18.10 of this chapter. Failure of an applicant to request a hearing under this section or to appear at a hearing for which a date has been set shall be deemed to be a waiver of the right to be heard and constitutes consent to the making of a decision on the basis of such information as is available. (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501, 2408)