John J. Pershing VA Medical Center receives funding for infrastructure improvements

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. (KBSI) — The John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff has received additional federal funding to support infrastructure improvements and facility upgrades.

The funding was awarded during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026 through the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Non-Recurring Maintenance program. The medical center also received funding earlier in the fiscal year.

The investment is part of a record $4.8 billion allocated nationwide by the VA in fiscal 2026 to modernize, repair and improve health care facilities.

Projects approved for the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center include:

– Demolition of Room 5025A in Building 1.
– Phase two of the fire and domestic water main replacement.
– Elevator modernization.
– Replacement of automatic transfer switches 3 and 4.
– Phase three of the Building 1 roof replacement.

“This funding allows John J. Pershing VA Medical Center to continue modernizing and improving, so our facility remains safe, efficient, and equipped to provide high-quality care for our Veterans in southeast Missouri,” Medical Center Director Kevin Bass said.

According to the VA, the department obligated the full $4.8 billion available for maintenance projects during fiscal 2026.

Fourth-quarter projects nationwide include $1.183 billion to repair and upgrade aging infrastructure systems at medical facilities, $938 million for major building improvements, including elevators and electrical systems, and $560 million to modernize infrastructure supporting future electronic health record updates.

The VA also highlighted several nationwide health care initiatives, reporting that it enrolled more than 300,000 new veterans in VA health care in 2026 and opened 43 new health care facilities since January 2025.

The department reported completing more than 82 million direct care appointments in fiscal 2025, a 4.1% increase from the previous year, along with nearly 60 million community care appointments, a 12% increase.

The VA also said it offered more than 3.4 million appointments outside normal operating hours to improve access to care.

The infrastructure funding is intended to help VA medical facilities maintain safe, efficient operations while continuing to serve veterans across the country.