Gov. Sanders, Commerce Department distribute $20 million for state's nursing pipeline

More than $20 million in training grants were awarded to 19 two-year and four-year Arkansas schools to expand the state’s nursing profession.

Gov. Sarah Sanders, Commerce Secretary Hugh McDonald and Cody Waits, Director of Arkansas Workforce Connection, announced the $20.4 million funding for the Arkansas Linking Industry to Growing Nurses, or ALIGN, grants on Monday (May 13).

“As Governor, one of my biggest priorities is preparing young Arkansans for the careers of the future. Healthcare and nursing is one of our primary areas of focus,” said Gov. Sanders. “The 19 two- and four-year colleges and universities receiving grants today train some of the best nurses in America. Each of them will help us build Arkansas’ next generation of healthcare professionals.”

The ALIGN Program is designed to upskill nursing professionals, expand nursing apprenticeship programs, and increase nurse educator recruitment and retention. Funding for the ALIGN grants is through President Joe Biden’s America Rescue Plan Act of 2021. No member of Arkansas’ Congressional delegation voted for the measure.

Public and private post-secondary educational institutions in Arkansas providing LPN, RN, and BSN degrees were eligible to apply for the ALIGN grant funding. All applicants were required to provide a healthcare partner contribution with a two-to-one match by the state for each dollar contributed by the healthcare partner.

“Nurses play a critical role in delivering quality healthcare in our state. It is essential that we have qualified nursing professionals to meet Arkansans’ healthcare needs today and in the future,” said McDonald. “Increasing educational opportunities and apprenticeships is vital for developing the nursing pipeline in Arkansas, and the ALIGN Program will provide funding to support the growth of our state’s nursing field.”

Eligible funding usage includes professional upskilling, expanding nursing apprenticeship, increasing nurse educator recruitment and retention, expanding clinical rotations, increasing nursing program capacity, tuition reimbursement, equipment purchasing, stimulation centers, and expansion of labs.

The schools and amounts awarded are as follows:

Arkansas State University
$2,598,396

ASU – Mountain Home
$625,175

Arkansas Tech University
$327,208

Baptist Health Foundation
$1,944,608

Henderson State University
$761,200

Jefferson Hospital Association
$420,800

John Brown University
$328,250

NorthWest Arkansas Community College
$2,110,901.58

Ouachita Baptist University
$487,000

Philander Smith University
$396,857.13

University of Arkansas Eleanor Mann School of Nursing
$1,198,353