Public officials and Haines Assisted Living, Inc. (HAL) joined veterans and community members April 27 for a ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Soboleff-McRae Veterans Village in Haines.

The project is the first state-funded private veterans housing facility in Alaska, and is designed to have 11 housing units for veterans and 10,000 square feet of office space for nonprofit support organizations. It is being constructed in downtown Haines and will be part of a complex that includes an assisted living facility and an independent living facility for elders.

According to a Veterans Village press release, Haines is projected to continue to have a larger percentage of veterans among its residents than many other communities in the state. A Juneau Economic Development Council feasibility study estimates that by 2025, the veteran population in Haines will have increased by 28 percent to 449 people and 70 percent of its veterans will be 65 or older.

For more information, visit HainesVeteransVillage.org.