Stabenow Announces VA is Moving Forward with Building of New Health Clinic in Traverse City

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) today announced that the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has selected a site and will be moving forward with the construction of a new expanded health clinic in Traverse City. The expanded clinic will be approximately 22,000 square feet and will help alleviate crowding at the current clinic.

Plans for the expansion of the VA health clinic in Traverse City have been in the works for years.  Stabenow spoke to former VA Secretary, David Shulkin, in November about the long delay in moving forward with construction and pushed him to take action.  He made a commitment to her that a site selection decision would be made by the end of March.  The outgoing Secretary met his commitment by making this site selection decision before his departure. 

“Making sure our veterans in Northern Michigan and across the state can get basic health care services without traveling long distances has been a top priority of mine,” said Senator Stabenow.  “The construction of this expanded clinic has been caught up in bureaucracy for years.  Today’s news moves us one step closer to more veterans getting the care they need and deserve.”

The current VA clinic in Traverse City provides health care services for thousands of Northern Michigan veterans every year, including primary care, women’s health, disease prevention and telehealth services. Once constructed, a new facility will also offer mental health, physical therapy and home-based primary care services. Senators Stabenow and Peters passed a law to name the new clinic after Army Colonel Demas T. Craw, a Traverse City-area native and Medal of Honor recipient, who fought in both World War I and II. 

Senator Stabenow has helped lead the effort to open new and expanded VA clinics across the state, including in Alpena, Bad Axe, Cadillac, Clare, Cheboygan County, Grayling, Oscoda, and Wyoming.