Four communities in rural Ohio will receive big investments – $3.4 million in total – from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) program, “Emergency Rural Health Care Grants.”

In a time when rural healthcare is facing layered crises – from reduced access to healthcare for individuals due to hospital consolidation and reductions in services, to lost revenue due to service cancelations during the COVID-19 pandemic, to workforce shortages, the funding infusion will fill critical gaps.

Awards are as follows:

  • Mark Milford Hicksville Junction Township Hospital District:  $368,720
  • Walnut Hills Retirement Communities  in Walnut Creek: $1 million
  • West Liberty Care Center in West Liberty, Good Shepard Home in Fostoria, Brown Memorial Home in Circleville, and GentleBrook in Hartville: combined $1.8 million
  • Center of Hope in Bladensburg: $299,108

Projects include purchase of a box truck for food pickups for a grocery and support services; revenue replacement from COVID closures; new frontline care equipment, raising baseline surge capacity and otherwise preparing for future pandemics.

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