It could be a year before U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs officials announce the location for the new community-based outpatient clinic planned for the south-central Minnesota border.

Freeborn County Veterans Services Officer Jon Rhiger said the clinic is dependent on the 2012 federal budget. Whether the clinic is included in the budget will determine if the clinic comes in 2012, or if it is pushed off another year until 2013.

“It’s kind of a wait and see,” Rhiger said.

It has been almost three years since officials in Washington, D.C., announced plans for the clinic, which would serve not only Minnesota veterans but Iowa veterans as well.

It has a possibility of being built in Albert Lea, Owatonna or Austin.

“We have the best available site in Freeborn County because of the access to the two interstate highways,” Rhiger said. “We’re the only true border area for south central Minnesota and northern Iowa.

What’s the best location?

Rhiger said if Freeborn County is chosen as the site for a community-based outpatient clinic, VA officials will have to determine if the site will be a VA-staffed clinic or if services will be contracted out to a medical provider.

That will play a big role in the location it could go in town.

The clinic could also be a new building or a renovation of an existing building.

He said there are still several options available for locations in Albert Lea, though one site in the southwest parking lot of Northbridge Mall will soon become a Shoe Sensations in mid-November.

Northbridge Mall Property Manager Barb Fate said though VA officials looked at the Shoe Sensations building — and even had an architect come out and draw a plan for that building — they also viewed several other locations in Albert Lea.

“They’re actually very open to any space where accessibility is easy for the patient,” Fate said.

She noted mall staff also showed a space inside the mall as well.

“I think it would be an absolutely huge asset to the community for our vets,” she said.

She noted that a majority of the veterans who go up to the VA clinic in Minneapolis or St. Cloud utilize the transportation offered through the Veterans Services office of the county.

If a clinic were available at a closer location, these veterans might be able to take a spouse or a family member for support.