JONESBORO, Ark. — A major round of rural health grants totaling $54.6 million, announced by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, will fund new medical residency programs, expand emergency medical training, and improve healthy food access in rural communities across Northeast Arkansas.
The Rural Health Transformation Program includes $4.4 million for the Mississippi County Hospital System, nearly $4.8 million for two St. Bernards projects, and approximately $5.1 million for two White River Health initiatives, among others, according to the governor’s office.
The New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University (NYITCOM at A-State) secured $3.74 million across two awards to create a family medicine residency in Blytheville and expand emergency medical services (EMS) education. A $2.89 million award will establish the Blytheville residency, where physicians will train in primary care, obstetrics, pediatrics, telemedicine, and chronic disease management, in collaboration with Mississippi County Hospital System and St. Bernards. An additional $847,760 will expand EMT and paramedic training in four two-year colleges across Mississippi, Randolph, Hot Spring, and Union counties.
Mississippi County Hospital System’s $4.4 million grant will fund physician training, leadership development, and workforce recruitment and retention at its Blytheville and Osceola hospitals. Projects include renovating a 12,040-square-foot space for a rural training site, supporting Chief Nursing Officer certification, and assisting employees with student-loan support and Public Service Loan Forgiveness programs.
St. Bernards Development Foundation received funding for two projects. A $3.85 million grant will launch the Rural Care Workforce Network, serving Craighead, Cross, Lawrence, and Randolph counties. This initiative includes psychiatry and family medicine emergency fellowships, clinical simulation training, and physician recruitment resources. Another $536,294 will help create a family medicine obstetrics fellowship at St. Bernards Medical Center, focusing on comprehensive maternity care for Clay, Craighead, and eight other counties, with its first fellows starting in 2027. Additionally, a $947,727 grant will support preventive care and wellness programs in Cross, Mississippi, and Craighead counties.
Meanwhile, White River Health will receive $2.94 million for a “food-as-medicine” program facilitating health screenings, produce prescriptions, and cooking education across Sharp, Stone, Jackson, and three other counties. Another $2.11 million will support 13 workforce projects focused on behavioral health, nursing, laboratory science, and other critical areas within Independence, Stone, Jackson, and Sharp counties.
Additional grants include $8.42 million for Heartland Whole Health Institute to coordinate chronic disease management and telehealth services across 27 counties, including Craighead, Greene, and Jackson. Studio Drift’s $1.13 million grant will connect wellness hubs with 28 miles of walking and cycling routes in Cross and Woodruff counties. Smaller awards will fund food access, wellness hubs, and specialized medical training in several other regions.
The $54.6 million marks the latest round of federal rural health transformation funding distributed through two initiatives: $27.4 million for preventive health projects via the HEART Initiative and $27.2 million for workforce development through RISE AR. This year’s total funding reached approximately $208 million.
Final grant details are pending the approval of agreements between recipients and the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration.