Department of War Approves $90 Million in Grants Under the Defense Community Infrastructure Program

Sept. 24, 2025 |

Today, the Department of War awarded ten Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP) grants from the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, totaling approximately $90 million. DCIP is a competitive program for states, territories, and communities to undertake infrastructure enhancements to support military value, the training of cadets at independent "covered educational institutions," installation resiliency, and/or family quality of life that benefits their local installations.

On August 15, the Assistant Secretary of War for Energy, Installations, and Environment instructed the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation to invite grant applications for ten projects based on a competitive ranking of all proposed projects in response to a May 27, 2025, DCIP Notice of Funding Opportunity.  

These awards derive from Fiscal Year 2025 appropriated funding and leverage an additional $59.9 million in non-federal funding, for a total investment of approximately $150 million. 

"Enhanced partnerships with state and local communities are critical to the success of our installations and their missions," said Mr. Dale Marks, Assistant Secretary of War for Energy, Installations, and Environment. "The Defense Community Infrastructure Program continues to play a vital role in building and maintain these successful partnerships. This year's program continues to build on the Department's efforts to invest in critical infrastructure with our defense communities to enable the readiness and lethality of our installations." 

The Fiscal Year 2025 grant awards are as follows: 

$14 million federal grant to North Slope Borough, Alaska, to undertake a $23.5 million project to install high-speed fiber optic telecommunications infrastructure to Point Barrow Long Range Radar Site. The project supports the readiness and lethality of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

$2.6 million federal grant to Golden Valley Electric Association, Inc., Alaska, to undertake a $2.7 million project to install critical electrical infrastructure to the Murphy Dome Long Range Radar Site. The project supports the readiness and lethality of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

$13 million federal grant to Golden Valley Electric Association, Inc., Alaska, to undertake a $13.3 million project to construct a new switching substation, upgrade an existing substation, and improve communication systems. This project supports the readiness and lethality of Eielson Air Force Base. 

$7 million federal grant to North County Fire Protection District, California, to undertake a $13.9 million project to construct a fire station that will enhance emergency response resources and mitigate impacts of wildfires on training and mission readiness. The project supports the readiness and lethality of Marine Corps Camp Pendleton and Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, Detachment Fallbrook.

$5.7 million federal grant to the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments, Connecticut, to undertake a project to replace 11,700 linear feet of a water main to enhance water supply infrastructure. This project supports the readiness and lethality of Submarine Base New London.

$4.8 million federal grant to the Port Authority of Guam to undertake a $6.9 million project to execute near-term structural and safety upgrades to stabilize the pier, extend its operational life, and maintain critical functionality. The project supports the readiness and lethality of Joint Region Marianas.

$10 million federal grant to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Oklahoma, to undertake a $35.8 million project to reconstruct a segment of US-69 and replace the Peaceable Creek bridge. The project supports the readiness and lethality of McAlester Army Ammunition Plant.

$11.9 million federal grant to the City of Chesapeake, Virginia, to undertake a $29.9 million project to construct a waterline. The project supports the readiness and lethality of Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads.

$20 million to Kitsap County Public Works, Washington, to undertake a $40 million project to construct a 1.4 million gallon per day anaerobic digester, yard piping, and a digester control building. The project supports the readiness and lethality of Naval Base Kitsap.

$300,000 federal grant to the City of Everett, Washington, to undertake a $800,000 project to construct a police boathouse facility. The project supports the readiness and lethality of Naval Station Everett.

Groundbreaking on these projects may commence once all environmental requirements have been met.  

The Defense Community Infrastructure Program is authorized under 10 U.S. Code § 2391.

VA's $52.5 Million Grants and Initiatives in the Battle to End Veteran Suicide

In a significant stride forward in its mission to prevent Veteran suicide, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has recently unveiled a comprehensive set of initiatives and grants amounting to $52.5 million. These measures encompass a variety of approaches to tackle this critical issue.

Preventing Veteran Suicide: A Top Priority

VA Secretary Denis McDonough emphasized the absolute importance of preventing Veteran suicide, underlining that one Veteran suicide is one too many. It's a top clinical priority for VA, and they are committed to utilizing every available tool to save Veteran lives.

Key Updates in the Battle Against Veteran Suicide

1. $52.5 Million in Veteran Suicide Prevention Grants: VA is taking a proactive approach by awarding over $52 million to 80 community-based organizations in 43 states and territories. These grants, part of the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, will enable these organizations to offer crucial suicide prevention services for eligible Veterans and their families.

2. Over 32,000 Veterans Receive Emergency Care: VA introduced a groundbreaking program offering free emergency medical care to Veterans in acute suicidal crisis. Since its launch in January 2023, more than 32,000 Veterans have received life-saving emergency healthcare at VA or non-VA facilities at no cost. This expansion of care has been instrumental in preventing Veteran suicide during times of crisis.

3. New Veteran Suicide Prevention PSAs: VA, in collaboration with the Ad Council, has released new Public Service Announcements (PSAs) as part of the "Don't Wait. Reach Out." national campaign. These PSAs, including those directed by Academy Award-winning director Kathryn Bigelow and featuring Metallica, encourage Veterans to seek support at VA.gov/REACH.

4. Veterans Crisis Line: Over 1 Million Contacts: Since the introduction of the shortened Veterans Crisis Line number, "Dial 988 then press 1," in July 2022, it has received more than 1.1 million contacts. This includes over 953,000 calls, showcasing a 12.1% increase from the previous year. Additionally, there was a significant rise in text messages (58.1%) and online chats (10%), illustrating the hotline's effectiveness in providing immediate help to Veterans in crisis.

5. All States and Territories Join the Governor's Challenge: All 50 states, along with five territories, are now part of the Governor's Challenge to Prevent Suicide among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families. This nationwide initiative aligns with the National Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide, with each state and territory developing a focused action plan for suicide prevention.

6. Collaborating with 1,500+ Community-Based Coalitions: VA is working with over 1,500 local community coalitions to prevent Veteran suicide. This collaborative effort now reaches more than 11 million Veterans across the nation.

Progress in the Battle Against Veteran Suicide

The 2022 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report demonstrated a decrease in Veteran suicides from 2019 to 2020, marking the most recent available data. Fewer Veterans died by suicide in 2020 than in any year since 2006. VA is set to release the 2023 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report later this Fall.

In addition to the aforementioned policies and grants, VA continues its endeavors to end Veteran suicide. Efforts include awarding $20 million through Mission Daybreak, a grand challenge aimed at reducing Veteran suicides, and ongoing public outreach on firearm suicide prevention and lethal means safety.

VA remains steadfast in its commitment to addressing this critical issue, and these latest initiatives underscore its dedication to saving Veteran lives.