Little Rock, Arkansas – Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has announced $54.6 million in grants for dozens of projects aimed at improving health, nutrition, physical activity and the health care workforce in rural communities across the state.
The awards represent the second round of funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program, which was established through President Donald Trump’s One, Big, Beautiful Bill. The latest announcement divides the money between two major initiatives.
A total of $27.4 million will support 30 projects through the Healthy Eating, Active Recreation & Transformation initiative, known as HEART. Another $27.2 million will fund 24 projects through Recruitment, Innovation Skills, and Education for Arkansas, or RISE AR.
Together with earlier funding awarded through the THRIVE and PACT priorities, the new grants complete the distribution of the $208 million awarded to Arkansas through the program this year. State officials expect Arkansas to receive approximately $1 billion through the program over five years. The funding is expected to reach all 75 counties and support rural hospitals, schools, community health centers, nonprofits and faith based partnerships.
“Transforming rural health care starts long before a patient walks through the hospital doors,” said Governor Sanders. “Thanks to President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts, we’re strengthening rural health care from the ground up – building healthier communities, growing our health care workforce, and giving providers the tools they need to better serve their patients. These projects will help Arkansans live healthier lives and build a stronger rural health care system for generations to come.”
CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz also pointed to the program’s focus on locally developed approaches.
“The Trump Administration’s Rural Health Transformation Program is helping states like Arkansas develop innovative, locally driven solutions to improve rural Americans’ access to high-quality care,” said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. “These grant awards demonstrate how this historic investment is empowering rural communities to strengthen their health systems, put patients first, and bring better care closer to home.”
HEART grants focus on healthier communities
The HEART initiative is centered on nutrition, physical activity, preventive care and management of chronic diseases. Projects include efforts to make locally produced food easier to obtain, establish food distribution locations, provide health education and increase preventive services. Churches, schools, clinics and farmers are among the partners expected to participate.
The awards vary considerably in size and scope.
Heartland Whole Health Institute received $8.42 million for Heartland Whole Health Connect, a project spanning numerous counties that will coordinate providers and pharmacists while expanding telehealth, preventive care and disease management.
White River Health System received more than $2.94 million to develop an integrated Food as Medicine program across six counties. The effort will connect clinical screenings and produce prescriptions with local food production, nutrition education and community health worker support.
The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture was awarded more than $2.64 million for a statewide project expected to reach between 30,000 and 50,000 rural residents annually through physical activity, child wellness, health literacy and chronic disease programs.
Other HEART recipients include the Arkansas Foodbank, Boys & Girls Clubs, Jefferson Hospital Association, Arkansas Cancer Coalition, Subiaco Abbey, St. Bernards Development Foundation and several universities, health organizations, churches and community groups. Projects range from cancer screenings and youth mental health training to walking trails, outdoor fitness equipment, community gardens and healthy food programs.
RISE AR targets rural health workforce shortages
The second half of the funding is focused on building and keeping a stronger health care workforce in rural Arkansas.
RISE AR will support physician residency programs, clinical training, recruitment and retention efforts, leadership development and specialized education for workers serving rural hospitals and clinics. The goal is to create a long term pipeline of trained professionals who can remain in rural communities.
Among the largest awards, Mississippi County Hospital System received more than $4.4 million for a project combining physician training, workforce recruitment and leadership development at hospitals in Blytheville and Osceola.
St. Bernards Development Foundation was awarded more than $3.85 million for a rural care workforce network in Northeast Arkansas. The project includes clinical simulation, recruitment, career development and plans for a psychiatry residency and family medicine emergency medicine fellowship.
The New York Institute of Technology received nearly $2.9 million for a Family Medicine Rural Track Program in Blytheville. The program will prepare physicians in rural primary care, obstetrics, pediatrics, telemedicine and chronic disease management.
UAMS also received funding for several workforce projects, including rural behavioral health training, a Family Medicine Obstetrics Fellowship, expanded nursing education and an online rural health care management certificate.
DFA Secretary Jim Hudson said state officials sought input from rural health professionals before deciding how the program would operate.
“Under Governor Sanders’ leadership, Arkansas put rural communities at the center of our Rural Health Transformation Program,” said DFA Secretary Jim Hudson. “Before accepting a single application, we held ten roadshow meetings across the state to hear directly from EMTs, nurses, hospital leaders, and other healthcare professionals. Their insight shaped the projects announced today. These investments in the HEART and RISE AR initiatives will strengthen rural healthcare and improve the lives of Arkansans for years to come.”
With the latest $54.6 million round, Arkansas has now distributed its $208 million allocation for this year across the program’s priorities. The projects range from immediate community programs involving healthy food and exercise to longer term efforts designed to train doctors, nurses, emergency medical workers and other health professionals who can serve rural Arkansas communities for years to come.
