Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has announced $54.6 million in grants awarded through the second round of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). The funding will support 54 projects statewide aimed at improving healthcare access and outcomes in rural Arkansas.
According to the Governor’s Office, $27.4 million will be allocated to 30 projects via the Healthy Eating, Active Recreation & Transformation (HEART) initiative. An additional $27.2 million will fund 24 projects through the Recruitment, Innovation Skills, and Education for Arkansas (RISE AR) initiative.
This marks the conclusion of the $208 million awarded to Arkansas this year as part of RHTP’s broader goals. Over the next five years, the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration estimates the state will receive approximately $1 billion for rural health transformation efforts. The initiatives will impact all 75 counties and involve partnerships with rural hospitals, schools, community health centers, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations.
"Transforming rural health care starts long before a patient walks through the hospital doors," Governor Sanders said in a statement. “These grants will build healthier communities, grow the healthcare workforce, and provide tools for providers to deliver better care.”
### HEART Initiative Projects The HEART initiative focuses on preventative care, nutrition, physical activity, and chronic disease management. Among the projects receiving support:
- **Heartland Whole Health Connect** will receive $8.42 million to coordinate providers and pharmacists in Newton, Sharp, Baxter, Marion, Searcy, and Stone counties. The program will expand telehealth services, disease management, and value-based care.
- **North Arkansas Rural Health Consortium** in Baxter County will receive $1 million to improve preventative, primary, specialty, and outpatient care. The funds will help expand the Vitality Plus Wellness Center and create community partnerships focused on wellness, nutrition, and exercise.
- **Building Children’s Physical Literacy and Physical Activity in Rural Arkansas Schools** in Marion County will receive $99,273 to implement a 12-week physical activity program for 150 children at four after-school sites. The goal is to improve physical literacy and create a replicable model for rural schools.
### RISE AR Initiative Projects The RISE AR initiative aims to address workforce shortages and improve healthcare training. Key projects include:
- **North Arkansas Regional Medical Center** (NARMC) will receive $1.63 million to support workforce development initiatives in Boone and Newton counties. Plans include advanced paramedic training, leadership development, and certifications for oncology, emergency, and behavioral health services.
- **White River Health** will receive $2.11 million for initiatives across Independence, Stone, Jackson, and Sharp counties to address workforce needs in behavioral health, nursing, laboratory science, and other specialties. Thirteen targeted projects will focus on recruitment, training, retention, and career development.
The RHTP funds aim to strengthen both infrastructure and personnel in rural healthcare systems, addressing the unique challenges faced by underserved communities across Arkansas.