(The Center Square) – A planned $35 million Veterans Affairs clinic in Kennewick is set to bring expanded medical services closer to thousands of veterans in the Tri-Cities and surrounding communities who currently travel to Walla Walla and other cities for care.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs selected a site in Kennewick’s Southridge area for a 124,000- to 130,000-square-foot outpatient clinic expected to employ as many as 250 people.
Kristopher Dahir, executive director of the Columbia Basin Veterans Center told The Center Square that the Tri-Cities has needed a larger VA facility for years because of the number of veterans living in the region.
“We have a population of 20,000 to 25,000 veterans,” Dahir said, referring to the Tri-Cities area. Within a 75-mile radius, he estimated the number could reach as many as 46,000.
The property was purchased for $13.5 million, while construction is estimated to cost $35 million. The federal government previously included $48.2 million for the project in legislation passed in 2022.
The VA selected JTW Development LLC to develop and lease the facility under a 20-year agreement valued at more than $209 million.
Dahir said the funding came from a combination of sources but did not specify how much would come from federal appropriations, private financing or other sources.
The VA has not announced a final opening date for the clinic. Project documents reported earlier this year indicated construction could begin in fall 2026 and take 18 to 24 months, potentially allowing the facility to open in summer 2028.
Local service needs
Many veterans currently must travel to the VA medical center in Walla Walla or Spokane for services not available locally, while others rely on civilian hospitals.
“The region is a necessity,” Dahir said.
The clinic has been discussed for 10 to 15 years, Dahir said, adding that funding from the federal side finally helped move the project forward.
The new facility is expected to provide a range of outpatient services, although the VA has not publicly confirmed a final list of services and providers.
Dahir said the clinic could offer services such as minor outpatient procedures, hearing care and vision care, reducing the need for veterans to travel outside the Tri-Cities.
The VA’s broader plans for the facility have included primary care, mental health care, dental services, audiology, optometry, radiology, laboratory services, pharmacy and prosthetics.
The existing VA clinic in Richland is relatively small, and the nearest VA medical center is about 50 miles away in Walla Walla.
For veterans with disabilities, mobility challenges or limited transportation, the distance can create barriers to receiving care.
Shane Thorson, a former Army officer and Tri-Cities veteran who has worked with veterans and their families, said the new facility represents an opportunity to make healthcare more accessible.
“It’s about time, and let’s make sure we do it right,” Thorson told The Center Square.
Thorson said he has personally traveled to Walla Walla for VA services and has seen other veterans struggle with referrals and appointments at facilities outside the region.
He said the clinic should provide as many services locally as the VA can safely and effectively offer, including primary care, mental health care, dental services, hearing and vision care, diagnostic services and pharmacy.
“Bring the healthcare to the veteran instead of continually making the veteran travel to the healthcare,” Thorson said.
Thorson said even routine care, such as getting eyeglasses, can require multiple steps for veterans who rely on the VA.
He described a process in which veterans may need to travel to Walla Walla for an eye exam and frame selection, with glasses then processed through the VA system and sent to Boise before being mailed to the veteran.
If the prescription is incorrect or the frames do not fit, the process may have to be repeated, creating additional travel and delays.
“Access on paper and access in real life are two very different things,” Thorson said.
Dahir said the need for expanded care goes beyond the physical challenges of traveling long distances.
He said veterans who served their country should be able to receive the care they earned without having to rely on family members or limited transportation options.
“It’s about respect,” Dahir said.
Thorson said the impact of the clinic will depend on whether veterans can access the services they need, rather than simply having a larger building in the region.
He also called for accredited veterans benefits representatives to have a presence in the facility, allowing veterans to seek help with disability claims and other benefits while receiving medical care.
Thorson said a veteran diagnosed with a new condition or experiencing a worsening service-connected disability may need help navigating the benefits system alongside medical treatment.
He said having accredited representation in the same building could reduce the need for veterans to seek assistance elsewhere.
Veterans may receive care through the VA, civilian hospitals or outside specialists, and Thorson said gaps in communication can leave veterans trying to track referrals and medical records themselves.
He said the new facility should be supported by reliable referral tracking and coordination with outside providers so veterans can receive consistent care.
Dahir said the region’s veteran population includes people who served in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as workers connected to the Hanford nuclear reservation who are approaching retirement.
He said some veterans may develop medical issues later in life that require specialized care.
Dahir said the Columbia Basin Veterans Center hopes to work alongside the VA and other organizations to help veterans access services.
“This will be both a mental and heart piece for veterans,” Dahir said.
For Thorson, the facility represents an opportunity to improve access to care for veterans across Eastern Washington.
“The clinic should be judged by how effectively it reduces barriers to treatment, including the distance veterans must travel, the time they wait for referrals and whether medical records and follow-up care are coordinated,” Thorson said.