The City of Roswell has unanimously approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Georgia Department of Veterans Service and the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation to collaborate on the planning, funding, and development of a new long-term Veterans’ care center to be located within the City. The proposed facility would provide full-time wraparound care for 126 Veterans, operated by the State of Georgia with VA support at no ongoing cost to the City of Roswell.
The new center, developed in partnership with the Federal Department of Veterans Affairs and Fulton County, would address both the physical and mental health needs of Veterans, including post-service trauma, PTSD, depression, and social isolation, through counseling, therapeutic programming, and a supportive residential community.
The project is made possible through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ State Veterans Home Construction Grant Program, a federal program that funds the construction of long-term care facilities for Veterans when states secure the required matching funds. Despite being one of the most populous states in the nation, Georgia has long lagged behind neighboring states like Alabama, South Carolina, and Tennessee, which have three times the number of Veterans’ long-term care homes despite smaller Veteran populations. Metro Atlanta has no dedicated facility of this kind.
Currently, Roswell is the only city in Georgia to step forward with an application.
“Roswell has always championed our Veterans, from the annual celebrations and memorials steps from City Hall to the programs we’ve built to honor their service. This facility would elevate that commitment to a world-class level,” said Mayor Mary Robichaux. “Bringing 126 units of comprehensive veteran care to our community is exactly the kind of investment our service men and women have earned, and I am proud that Roswell is stepping up to lead the way.”
Project Funding and Support
The total project is estimated at $90 million, plus land. The federal government has committed $65 million toward the project. The remaining $35 million will be raised through private donations, which will be collected and managed by the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation using its existing 501(c)(3).
The MOU was a necessary first step before any fundraising could officially begin. It authorizes the Foundation to accept and manage donations specifically earmarked for the Roswell project, ensuring donors are fully protected: if the fundraising goal is not met, contributions will be returned.
The City of Roswell’s role in this effort is to serve as a committed partner and community champion. The City will not collect, manage, or contribute money to the project. Its primary contribution will be to help promote the fundraising effort and, depending on site selection, potentially facilitate or contribute land. Any decisions would be subject to the standard City review and approval process. Private land donations are also being explored.
Next Steps
The center is expected to create up to 300 jobs in the area and will include integrated greenspace accessible to visitors.
No site has been finalized. Proposed locations will be shared with the community this summer, and residents will have the opportunity to provide feedback. All final site decisions, including any applicable zoning approvals, will go through the standard City process.
