Foundation Lands $5.7M to Train Healthcare Workers
A federal workforce grant will fund healthcare training for rural West Virginians at a repurposed former high school in Calhoun County.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Nursing Jobs
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The 1982 Foundation has been awarded $5.7 million through the U.S. Department of Labor's Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities Initiative. The funding will support the Onward Upward program, which plans to train 600 healthcare workers across 14 West Virginia counties over three years.
Why it matters
The program targets barriers such as transportation, childcare and training costs that keep rural residents from pursuing education. It also adds adult workforce development to a campus being repurposed for economic and educational use in a county that has appeared on the Appalachian Regional Commission's distressed list for more than 40 consecutive years.
The $5.7 million award includes $2.4 million for participant support such as stipends and childcare assistance. The initiative aims to train 600 healthcare workers over three years, with the source not detailing enrollment start dates.
The players
The 1982 Foundation
A nonprofit established in August 2021 by members of the Calhoun County High School Class of 1982 to repurpose the former school for community development.
U.S. Department of Labor
The federal agency that administers the Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities Initiative through which the award was made.
The details
Onward Upward will be based at the former Calhoun County High School in Grantsville, a building constructed in 1921 and closed in 1998. Training will cover nursing, phlebotomy, medical assisting and emergency medical technician positions.
Timeline
1921: Former Calhoun County High School building constructed.
1998: Calhoun County High School closed.
August 2021: The 1982 Foundation established as a nonprofit.
Over the next three years: Initiative aims to train 600 healthcare workers.
Market Landscape
The WORC Initiative channels Department of Labor funds through the Appalachian Regional Commission to rural communities such as Calhoun County, which has been on the ARC's economically distressed list for over four decades. This Grantsville project applies that federal model to build a local healthcare pipeline.
Residents in the 14 participating counties may be able to access no-cost training in nursing, phlebotomy, medical assisting and EMT roles. Stipends and childcare assistance are funded to help participants complete the programs.
The takeaway
Rural healthcare staffing shortages can be addressed through workforce programs that remove cost and childcare barriers. Residents considering these careers should watch for enrollment details from the Onward Upward program.
Further reading
Explore more West Virginia Nursing Jobs openings and training pathways in the state.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Parthenon.
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