TEXARKANA, Texas - Construction on the new Texarkana Community Based Outpatient Clinic for the Veterans Administration continues in spite of unusual weather delays. The foundation has been laid and the steel frame is going up.
"We broke ground towards the end of June," said Mark James, president of M.L. James Construction. "Since then, we've contended with unusual weather, such as getting the average annual amount of rainfall for the area in just three months. Twenty-six inches of rain has been delivered since we broke ground. However, all things considered, progress to date has been satisfactory."
M.L. James Construction is doing the contract work for Blue Cord DevGroup.
John Killgore, president of Blue Cord DevGroup, describes his firm as a service-disabled, veteran owned small business.
"Ninety-nine percent of our work is for veterans," he said. "We are the first service-disabled, veteran-owned company to deliver such facilities for the VA. The Texarkana facility will be the third of this kind to be provided by our firm."
Blue Cord DevGroup's motto is "For veterans, by veterans."
The facility is slated for completion in fourth quarter of 2021.
"We are very fortunate, blessed," said Killgore. "The City of Texarkana, everyone there, has been wonderful in supporting this facility and bringing about economic development that has helped make this project possible."
When complete, the installation will feature 20 examination rooms, an x-ray room, physical therapy facilities and various support spaces.