Two North Alabama communities will host workshops this week as state officials begin rolling out Alabama’s new $203 million Rural Health Transformation Program aimed at improving healthcare access and sustainability in rural areas.
Gov. Kay Ivey announced last week that the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs will hold six workshops across the state to help healthcare providers, community leaders and other stakeholders learn more about the new program and upcoming funding opportunities.
North Alabama workshops are scheduled for Wednesday, May 27, in both Gadsden and Florence.
The Gadsden workshop will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. at Gadsden State Community College in the Advanced Manufacturing Flex Lab.
The Florence workshop is scheduled from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at University of North Alabama in Wesleyan Auditorium.
“As part of the national One Big Beautiful Bill passed into law last July, Alabama secured $203 million from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to launch the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program,” Ivey said in a statement. “Next week, ADECA will hold six workshops across Alabama for interested healthcare providers and stakeholders to learn about the opportunities of participating in the program.”
According to state officials, the initiative is designed to strengthen rural healthcare systems through targeted investments supporting healthcare transformation, workforce development and new models of care delivery.
The workshops will provide an overview of the program’s 11 initiatives and allow attendees to ask questions and receive guidance ahead of the first funding application period expected to open in early June.
“ADECA is taking steps to ensure that potential applicants have the resources, information and support needed to understand the program and its initiatives in order to prepare and submit competitive applications,” said Kenneth Boswell.
Officials said all attendees must pre-register for the workshops.
The Rural Health Transformation Program is funded through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and totals more than $203 million in federal funding dedicated entirely to Alabama rural healthcare initiatives.
