Beginning in July, 38 organizations across Tennessee will receive funding to grow the healthcare workforce in rural counties.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development announced it awarded $10.7 million in grant funding to support rural healthcare initiatives across the state.
Beginning in July, 38 organizations across Tennessee will receive funding to grow the healthcare workforce in rural counties. Among the recipients in East Tennessee are Covenant Health, Roane Medical Center, Mountain People’s Health Council and several others.
The Rural Healthcare Initiatives Program will enable organizations to support 51 health-related occupations across 91 of Tennessee’s 95 non-metropolitan counties.
“The Rural Healthcare Initiatives Program is a critical step toward building a sustainable healthcare workforce in Tennessee’s rural areas,” Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Deniece Thomas said. “This initiative provides financial resources to support training, certifications, and apprenticeships.”
The program will provide financial resources for training, certifications and apprenticeships. It will also cover other costs such as transportation, childcare and examination fees to reduce barriers for those entering or advancing in healthcare careers.
“Our goal is to remove barriers and create opportunities for individuals to enter and excel in healthcare careers in Tennessee’s rural communities,” Thomas said. “We know a healthy Tennessee is a vibrant Tennessee, and nowhere is that more important than in our rural communities.”
Gov. Bill Lee has included a second year of funding for the program in his proposed budget for the 2025–2026 fiscal year.
