New Cookeville VA Clinic Could Serve Up To 15,000 Enrollees

A new Veterans Clinic slated for Cookeville set to bring a larger facility and expanded services for veterans in the region.

Mike Renfrow is the Deputy Executive Director for VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare. He said through the federal government’s PACT act, which aims to expand veterans’ healthcare access, the system was able to get funding for three facilities.

“We are one of the largest and we’re continuing to grow so we’re becoming even larger,” Renfrow said. “We’ve got folks who are staying in this area that get off active duty say at Fort Campbell, and then folks that are relocating at this area. So we’re experiencing just incredible growth.”

Renfrow said additional services will include better access to mental healthcare, ophthalmology, nutrition and physical therapy. He said the current facility on Willow Avenue is about 20,000 square feet and can serve about 4,500 enrollees. Renfrow said the proposed new facility will be almost 45,000 square feet and can serve 15,000 enrollees.

Renfrow said the process now will go through contractors and developers to make the project a reality. He said they are currently in the site-selection phase and hope to open in 2027 or 2028.

“We had projected to open a clinic in Cookeville, but last August when the president signed the PACT act which is an incredible expansion of VA care,” Renfrow said. “(…) So Tennessee Valley got funding for three sites, and one of those is our Cookeville and site and we’re also expanding in Nashville and in Clarksville.”