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Valley dignitaries welcomed the first resident of this 300 bed facility a day before the grand opening.
Bill Carr is a World War II veteran from Bakersfield. He's waited for years to call this place his new home after funding issues delayed its opening -- and he says he lost hope.
In 2011, Assembly Bill 1422 was introduced to restore funding and open the facility -- eventually bringing the project back in play. "I almost gave up," said Carr. "And then all of a sudden I read the funding reappeared and they were going to finish the unit and I got real excited because I wanted to leave Bakersfield and come here to be closer to my two sons and my six grandchildren."
More residents are expected in the coming weeks. The home will serve up to 300 Valley vets and employ 450 people when fully operational.
