West Virginia has one of the lowest workforce participation rates in the country. It currently stands at 54% -- about 10% below the national average.
A key goal for West Virginia’s Rural Health Transformation Program plan is to improve health outcomes to get more people back into the workforce.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced Wednesday that $10.5 million in funding opportunities are available to help residents overcome health-related barriers to employment and successfully return to the workforce.
Approximately $8.5 million is available to support health-to-work programs for individuals with chronic physical health conditions, and approximately $2 million is available to support recovery-focused return-to-work programs.
Released under the state’s Health to Prosperity (HTP) initiative, the funding opportunities are part of the $145 million made available to date through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program.
“One of the best ways to increase workforce participation is by improving healthcare outcomes,” Morrisey said. “These investments help more West Virginians get the care they need, return to work, and take advantage of the opportunities we’re creating across our state.”
While each funding opportunity targets a distinct population, both encourage coordinated approaches that align healthcare services, support systems, and employer engagement to help individuals improve their health and successfully return to work, according to a press release.
Proposed models are encouraged to reduce barriers to employment, improve access to services, support long-term stability, and help participants successfully return to and remain in the workforce. The funding opportunities will close on the following dates:
- Restoring WV’s Workforce through Health-to-Work Programs for Substance Use Disorder (RHT-AFA-07-06-2026-HTP) – Monday, July 20
- Restoring WV’s Workforce through Health-to-Work Programs for Chronic Conditions (RHT-AFA-06-30-2026-HTP) – Monday, July 20
Eligible applicants may access the active solicitations through the state’s procurement and grants management system at wvOASIS.gov. Interested organizations are encouraged to review the full solicitation materials for detailed eligibility requirements, submission instructions, and key deadlines.