DMVA outlines priorities: Selfridge runway work, veterans cemetery and childcare in tuition program

The Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) presented its fiscal 2026 priorities to a House subcommittee, highlighting a $26 million request to complete non-airfield work at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, a $5 million one-time state investment to acquire land and design a new state veterans cemetery, and a proposal to repurpose part of the Michigan National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program (MINGSTAP) to reimburse childcare costs for service members and their families.

Terry Sabo, deputy director of the DMVA, described the department as “wide reaching” and told lawmakers the agency supports roughly 11,000 personnel, about 95% of its authorized force, and has an estimated economic impact in Michigan of more than $1 billion, most of it federal funds. “Readiness is number one,” Sabo said, while also stressing the department’s community role and economic contributions.

Rochelle Bridal, the department’s chief financial officer, walked the committee through three fiscal priorities: (1) expanding MINGSTAP to reimburse reliable childcare without requesting new state funds, using existing state resources; (2) a $26 million FY'26 request to complete the non-airfield phase of a Selfridge Air National Guard Base project meant to address runway clear-zone compliance and secure future fighter missions; and (3) a $5 million, one-time state investment to acquire land and pay design and engineering costs for a new Michigan Veterans Cemetery in Crawford County.

On Selfridge, agency witnesses said the overall project cost varies by scope but is in the neighborhood of $100 million; the $26 million sought for FY'26 would fund non-airfield phase work so construction could begin. Sabo explained the runway work involves shortening the south end and extending the north end to restore required clearances after a federal waiver was withdrawn about a decade ago. Bridal called the Selfridge work “critical for the department to start construction” so the state can secure future federal missions and investment.

On childcare, Bridal said the childcare proposal would be built into the existing state tuition-assistance program and would not require additional state funding. She cited a department survey showing about 40% of Army National Guard families and 30% of Air National Guard families struggle to find reliable childcare and argued reimbursement would help retention and readiness.

The department also reviewed earlier investments. Sabo said the legislature previously appropriated $55 million for a statewide armory modernization program that leveraged federal funds and upgraded dozens of armories, improving facilities for a more diverse force. He described Camp Grayling’s Northern Strike exercise and other training investments as major contributors to readiness and economic activity.

The Michigan Veterans Homes system was discussed: Grand Rapids was modernized in 2021, Chesterfield recently opened a new facility, and the Jacobetti (Jacob Eddy) home in Marquette is slated to be replaced with a newly purchased site and a planned groundbreaking in spring. Bridal said land for the Marquette replacement has been acquired and planning is underway.

Bridal said the proposed veterans cemetery investment would support access for a large veteran population: “There are over an estimated over 50,000 veterans within 75 miles of the proposed cemetery site in Crawford County,” she said, and forecasted nearly 200 eligible interments per year, translating to more than 1,000 over the next decade. The department said the state investment would enable pursuit of federal grants for construction and maintenance.

Committee members asked for additional details and timelines. Sabo invited members to visit Northern Strike and noted the department would provide more information as designs and federal partnerships advance.

The presentation preceded more extensive questioning on a separate issue: the county veteran service grant recalculation and its immediate impacts on counties and veterans’ services.