Veterans Cemetery Grants

VA has awarded grants totaling more than $1 billion to establish, expand, improve, operate, and maintain 122 Veterans cemeteries in 49 states and territories including tribal trust lands, Guam, and Saipan. In fiscal year 2022, NCA grant funded state cemeteries provided more than 45,000 interments.

Grants may be used only to establish, expand, or improve Veterans cemeteries that are owned and operated by a state, territory or tribal government on trust land. Aid is granted only to states, U.S. territories and federally recognized tribal governments, not to private organizations, counties, cities, or other government agencies. VA can provide up to 100 percent of the development cost for an approved project. For establishment of new cemeteries, VA can provide for operating equipment as well. VA cannot pay for acquisition of land.

Cemeteries funded under the grant program must conform to the standards and guidelines pertaining to site selection, planning and construction prescribed by VA.

Cemeteries must comply with Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA) requirements in Title IX, Sections 70901 70952, Public Law, 117-58 (accessible using this link: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-117publ58/pdf/PLAW-117publ58.pdf) that ensure all iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials are produced in the United States. Cemeteries must certify that they will use grant funds for projects that meet BABAA domestic content procurement preferences. All iron, steel, and construction materials used in VA-funded projects must be produced or manufactured in the U.S., and all manufactured products used in the project must be produced in the U.S. (cost of the components of the U.S. manufactured product must be greater than 55% of the total cost of all components).

Cemeteries must be operated solely for the interment of Veterans (as defined in 38 CFR part 39.2), and their eligible family members (see 38 CFR part 39.10). Additionally, due to a recent change in the law, a grantee cemetery may also inter the individuals defined in 38 U.S.C. 2408(i)(2), who are ineligible for burial in a VA National Cemetery. More information about this new authority can be found on the NCA Notices webpage, accessible using this link: https://www.cem.va.gov/policies/notices.asp

The administration, operation, and maintenance of a VA-supported state cemetery is solely the responsibility of the state, territory, or tribal government.

VA is authorized to reimburse states "plot allowance" of up to $828.00 for expenses incurred in the burial of certain eligible Veterans.