Nearly $1 Million Awarded to Expand Health Care Workforce Training Across West Virginia
BUCKHANNON, W.Va. — A nearly $1 million investment will help train the next generation of health care professionals across West Virginia, with several North Central West Virginia colleges and educational programs among those receiving funding.
Community Care of West Virginia has been awarded $944,874 through the Appalachian Regional Commission to expand health care workforce development and educational opportunities across the state.
The investment will support partnerships with 10 educational institutions and workforce development organizations, each receiving $75,000 to strengthen training programs, purchase equipment and introduce more students to careers in health care.
Several of the participating organizations are located in North Central West Virginia, including Pierpont Community and Technical College, Glenville State University, West Virginia Wesleyan College, Fred Eberle Technical Center and Appalachian Impact.
At Pierpont Community and Technical College in Fairmont, the funding will help expand educational opportunities and prepare additional students for clinical experiences and careers in the health care industry.
Glenville State University will use its investment to provide free health and fitness assessments, while West Virginia Wesleyan College will strengthen nursing education through additional training focused on communication between patients and medical professionals.
Fred Eberle Technical Center in Buckhannon will purchase equipment to provide students with hands-on training, giving future health care workers opportunities to develop practical skills before entering the workforce.
Appalachian Impact, also based in Buckhannon, will expand its after-school programming for middle school students to include career exploration and leadership development opportunities.
Other participating institutions include Davis & Elkins College, West Virginia University, West Virginia Junior College, Marshall University and the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.
The initiative is designed to address workforce shortages that continue to affect hospitals, medical offices and other health care providers, particularly in rural communities where recruiting and retaining medical professionals can be challenging.
The funding comes through the Appalachian Regional Commission's POWER Initiative, which supports economic development and workforce opportunities in communities affected by changes in the coal industry.
The investment also complements a major expansion underway at Community Care of West Virginia's headquarters in Buckhannon.
The organization is developing a new four-story health and education facility expected to open in spring 2028. The approximately $20 million project will include dedicated space for education and workforce development, allowing students, medical professionals and community organizations to participate in additional training opportunities.
The new facility is expected to create opportunities for partnerships between educational institutions and health care providers while helping prepare more West Virginians for careers in the medical field.
For North Central West Virginia, the investment represents another opportunity to connect education directly with workforce needs, providing students with practical experience while strengthening the region's ability to deliver health care services.
As demand for trained medical professionals continues to grow, programs like these are expected to play an important role in helping West Virginians pursue careers close to home while supporting the future of rural health care.
