Governor Patrick Morrisey announced on Apr. 28 the opening of $28.56 million in funding opportunities as part of West Virginia’s participation in the federal Rural Health Transformation Program. The funds are available for eligible organizations to apply and aim to improve health outcomes, help more residents return to work, and strengthen the rural healthcare workforce.
The initiative is intended to address persistent challenges faced by rural communities regarding healthcare access and workforce shortages. By investing in targeted programs, state officials hope to create lasting improvements across West Virginia.
“We did the work to bring this program to West Virginia, and now these resources are available to the organizations on the ground that can put them to use,” said Governor Morrisey. “As these resources are deployed, we’ll see more West Virginians back on the job and stronger, healthier communities across the state.”
The funding will be managed through the West Virginia Department of Health and will support three main initiatives: Mountain State Care Force (MSCF), HealthTech Appalachia (HTA), and Connected Care Grid (CCG). These programs focus on expanding workforce capacity, encouraging health technology innovation, improving data infrastructure, and enhancing care coordination among rural providers.
The $28.56 million investment features six specific funding opportunities: four under MSCF—High School Outreach Programs, Career Ladder initiatives, Rural Healthcare Apprenticeships, Faculty Positions & Residencies—and two direct awards under HTA and CCG for a Fiscal Agent/Independent Evaluator and a Digital Backbone Data Source.
Secretary of Health Dr. Arvin Singh said, “This is a major step forward in our work to improve health outcomes and transform the workforce across West Virginia.” Singh added that investments through these initiatives would ensure long-term benefits for communities statewide by providing high-quality care now and into the future.
Eligible applicants can find all six funding opportunities via wvOASIS.gov with further details about eligibility requirements available online. Additional information will be shared during an upcoming webinar.
