Operating in a rural state, many industries in Arkansas have had difficulty — especially in the pandemic aftermath — finding experienced and skilled workers to fill critical positions.

Health care has been particularly problematic across the entire state, in metro areas and small towns. The Arkansas Rural Health Partnership (ARHP) is stepping up to provide relief in smaller communities by building a worker pipeline to supply the industry.

The nonprofit organization is identifying critical and in-demand training needs for hospitals, clinics and other health providers in rural areas by establishing the Arkansas Rural Health Academy, which plans to begin training students for multiple career opportunities in January. Coordination is underway to gain support from health care providers and training organizations such as schools, technical institutions and community colleges.

The goal, the organization says, is to train local, rural residents to “fill immediate and pressing labor gaps with rural health organization partners across the state.”

The core strategy notes that investing in and building a rural health care workforce with local talent provides long-term benefits for small towns in Arkansas — jobs for residents, better care for Arkansans and enhanced investment opportunities.

“Especially after covid we’ve had an ongoing struggle to get health care workers into our rural hospitals and clinics,” says Mellie Boagni, ARHP’s chief executive officer. “It’s a needs-based approach and we started this because there were no programs available to address the hiring struggle. We had the money to give to students and we wanted to help in all our rural counties.”

The organization provides about $1.5 million annually for scholarships to help with financial needs. Funding comes from grants through the U.S. Department of Labor and other agencies such as the Delta Regional Authority.

Training support will lean on existing infrastructure, including a mobile unit, telehealth, online training and distance-learning classes and available classrooms at local facilities. Academy participants also will have apprenticeships available to place them in careers.

The academy will provide career options for high school students and offer skills training for local workers and even health care professionals. Training includes certificate and degree-path programs that vary in length and intensity. Some courses are just a few hours online while others can take several week or months or up to two years.

“We’ve got to grow our own talent,” Boagni says. “It’s just too hard to recruit to rural areas.”

ARHP also has a website to link potential health care workers with information on careers in the industry, including interviews with current sector employees at most job levels, salary information and connections to career counselors in the chosen career path. The site includes more than 40 career options.

The training initiative is built to help overcome common barriers in rural areas such as local training options and travel times to receive training if a local option is not available.

ARHP, based in Lake Village, represents 19 rural hospitals, two health centers and three medical education institutions.

DISASTER AID AVAILABLE

Small nonfarm businesses in five Arkansas counties are eligible to apply for low-interest federal disaster loans that are available through the U.S. Small Business Administration.

SBA will make the loans in Crittenden, Lee, Monroe, Phillips and St. Francis counties to help companies compensate for reduced revenues related to severe weather that began May 22.

“SBA eligibility covers both the economic impacts on businesses dependent on farmers and ranchers that have suffered agricultural production losses caused by the disaster and businesses directly impacted by the disaster,” said Francisco Sanchez, associate administrator at the federal agency.

Small nonfarm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, companies engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million. Funds can be used for financial obligations and operating expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occurred.

“Eligibility for these loans is based on the financial impact of the disaster only and not on any actual property damage,” Sanchez says.

Businesses can apply through April 2025 at sba.gov/disaster.

GENDER EQUITY GRADES

The Women’s Foundation of Arkansas has built a scorecard that can help businesses across the state evaluate their progress toward gender equity in the workplace.

“The Gender Equity Scorecard is a powerful tool for Arkansas companies committed to advancing gender equity in the workplace,” said Anna Beth Gorman, the organization’s chief executive officer. “This program not only highlights areas where businesses excel but also sheds light on opportunities for growth and improvement. By participating, companies can gain critical insights into their practices and take actionable steps toward creating more inclusive and equitable workplaces, which is essential for fostering innovation and long-term success.”

The scorecard is available at womensfoundationarkansas.org and is open until Oct. 31. It is designed for completion by senior executives or HR leaders and participants will receive an evaluation within three days that updates their efforts.

Column ideas or recommendations? Thoughts or musings that need pursuing? Contact me at [email protected] or at (501) 378-3567.