$112 Million Lakeland Veterans Affairs Construction Kicks Off

LAKELAND, FL — Services for veterans in the Polk County area will expand by 2024 following a groundbreaking ceremony for a new 92,600 sq. ft. Lakeland Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic on Thursday.

According to a VA news release, the James A. Haley Veteran's Hospital in Tampa will build the new Lakeland clinic that will exceed the size of its current facility by about six times. Polk County veterans have needed to drive to the Tampa location for many years because of the limited health services the Lakeland clinic has offered.

With the expansion of building size, it will offer many of the same services the Tampa location offers.

David K. Dunning, the clinic's executive director, said it will expand primary care, pharmacy, mental health and specialty services including physical therapy, podiatry and radiology. The 650 additional parking spaces will also make it easier for veterans so they can find parking quicker compared to the current facility's limited parking spaces, which can cause stress for veterans and cause for them to be late for their appointment.

“What really made it necessary is Florida, in general, is having this huge growth spurt of veterans that are coming to this area, especially in Tampa and along the I-4 corridor,” Dunning said.

Dunning expects construction to wrap up by 2023 and for the clinic to start treating patients in 2024. The construction cost for the new clinic is $112 million.