# Virginia Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) Earn to Learn Initiative Virginia Works RFA #128140 solicits applications for the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) Earn to Learn Initiative, a competitive, employer-driven workforce training initiative funding the creation and expansion of registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs in rural allied health occupations across Virginia. Up to $4,679,752.46 in federal funds will be awarded in 2026–27 for workforce development activities including paid on-the-job training, related technical instruction, participant supportive services, and workforce partnerships. Awards, anticipated to range from $500,000 to $1,500,000 for three to seven subrecipients, will support new and expanding Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) for rural healthcare employers and their partners. Supported occupations include (but are not limited to) dental hygienists, sonographers, nurses, radiology techs, and therapy assistants. Requirements include: demonstration of organizational capacity, a project narrative and budget, strict reporting milestones, initial RAP registration within three months of grant start (six months for new-to-RAP organizations), and participant commitment to five years of rural service. Administrative costs may not exceed 10% (no indirect permitted); cost per participant is capped at $13,000. This initiative is a sub-initiative of the RHTP 'Homegrown Health Heroes' strategy, administered by Virginia Works as a subrecipient of Virginia DMAS with CMS funds. Applications are due October 16, 2026, via eVA. ## Key facts - Status: Closed - Type: RFA - Issued by: Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement (Virginia Works) (Virginia) - Posted: 2026-09-21 - Questions due: 2026-10-02 - Application due: 2026-10-16 - Funding: $4.7M - Eligible applicants: Healthcare employers, Hospitals and health systems, Independent practices, Clinics, Federally qualified health centers, Rural health clinics, Educational institutions, Nonprofit organizations, Tribal entities, Government entities, Workforce intermediaries - How to apply: Submit the complete response through the Commonwealth of Virginia eVA procurement system: https://eva.virginia.gov/ - Funding source: Rural Health Transformation Program (CMS) - Official source: https://mvendor.cgieva.com/Vendor/public/IVDetails.jsp?PageTitle=SO+Details&rfp_id_lot=128140&rfp_id_round=1 ## Eligibility Eligible applicants must: (1) Be a legally organized entity in good standing and capable of receiving federal subaward funding (including healthcare employers/hospital or health system, independent practices, clinics, federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, Tribal entities, government entities, or workforce intermediaries). (2) Hold active SAM.gov registration with a current Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), and have no active exclusions, debarments, or suspensions. (3) Be physically located in, or provide direct services to, rural Virginia communities, using the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) definition for eligibility. (4) Have at least one committed rural healthcare employer partner (or a detailed outreach plan to secure one, if not an employer themselves). Individuals receiving wage or supportive services must agree to a five-year rural service commitment. Ineligible applicants: not current on Virginia tax obligations, not in compliance with required terms and conditions, or who engage in non-compete agreements with healthcare workers. Relocating businesses are ineligible unless operating in Virginia for at least 120 days if relocation resulted in job loss elsewhere; no funds may support relocation resulting in US job loss. ## Requirements Applicants must submit a complete application via the eVA procurement system referencing RFA #128140, and include: • Exhibit A (Application Cover Page) • Exhibit B (Applicant Checklist) • Exhibit C (State Corporation Commission Form) • Exhibit D (Budget Information SF-424A) • Project narrative (Sections A–E, max 8 pages) • Budget narrative (max 2 pages) • Organizational capacity/commitment (2 pages) • Key personnel (1 page) • Past performance (2 pages) • Certifications/disclosures, and required supporting documents. Applications must detail: development or expansion of Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs); creation of relevant pre-apprenticeship programs; partnerships with local workforce boards and Registered Apprenticeship Consultants; participant supportive services; and reporting/performance milestones. New RAPs must be registered within three months of period of performance start (six months for entities newly implementing RAPs), and apprentices registered within 12 months. Administrative costs are capped at 10% with no indirect cost recovery; average cost per participant may not exceed $13,000. Compliance with federal subaward requirements is mandatory, including documentation for milestone achievement and a five-year rural service agreement for each participant receiving wage/supportive benefits. ## Required attachments - Exhibit A - Application Cover Page - Exhibit B - Applicant Checklist - Exhibit C - State Corporation Commission Form - Exhibit D - Budget Information SF-424A - Project Narrative - Budget Narrative - Organizational Capacity and Commitment - Key Personnel - Past Performance - Required certifications and disclosures ## Application package and source documents - [VA - 2026 - Back to Newsroom Share (Virginia Works program background page)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/9e3f8c34-bb9f-4738-8950-ebc9c3c4ae8b/file) — official: https://virginiaworks.gov/virginia-rural-health-transformation-program-rhtp - [VA - 2026 - Virginia Works Launches Request for Application for “Earn to Learn” RHT Grant (Virginia Works Earn to Learn source evidence)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/c565822e-1813-4de1-933d-1a4fd92a17da/file) — official: https://virginiaworks.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Press-Release-Rural-Health-Transformation-FINAL.pdf - [VA - 2026 - Virginia Works announces $4.6M in available funding to launch RHT “Earn to Learn” initiative (Virginia Works Earn to Learn source evidence)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/385cfa37-e7af-480f-b2a6-fcc94a8007b5/file) — official: https://virginiaworks.gov/virginia-works-launches-request-for-application-for-earn-to-learn-rural-health-transformation-grant - [VA - 2026 - REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS Virginia RHTP Earn to Learn Initiative (RFA #128140 controlling solicitation)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/678fbc94-28d1-4a80-b201-45a7148fed86/file) (primary) — official: https://mvendor.cgieva.com/Vendor/public/IVDetails.jsp?PageTitle=SO+Details&rfp_id_lot=128140&rfp_id_round=1&file=VA%20Works%20RFA%20FINAL%201%20.pdf - [VA - 2026 - Virginia RHTP Earn to Learn Initiative | RFA #128140 Exhibit A: Application Cover Page (Exhibit A - Application Cover Page)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/320f8a13-498f-4cc6-a62e-6eb5d5270cd4/file) — official: https://mvendor.cgieva.com/Vendor/public/IVDetails.jsp?PageTitle=SO+Details&rfp_id_lot=128140&rfp_id_round=1 - [VA - 2026 - Virginia RHTP Earn to Learn Initiative | RFA #128140 Exhibit B: Applicant Checklist (Exhibit B - Applicant Checklist)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/9e414b61-e2f9-474e-81ec-37530ebfb31e/file) — official: https://mvendor.cgieva.com/Vendor/public/IVDetails.jsp?PageTitle=SO+Details&rfp_id_lot=128140&rfp_id_round=1&file=Exhibit%20B%20Applicant%20Checklist.pdf - [VA - 2026 - Virginia RHTP Earn to Learn Initiative | RFA #128140 Exhibit C: State Corporation Commission Form (Exhibit C - State Corporation Commission Form)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/d6166f88-ae8e-46cb-a9a9-e59770eaf8fb/file) — official: https://mvendor.cgieva.com/Vendor/public/IVDetails.jsp?PageTitle=SO+Details&rfp_id_lot=128140&rfp_id_round=1&file=Exhibit%20C%20State%20Corporation%20Commission%20Form.pdf - [VA - 2026 - Virginia RHTP Earn to Learn Initiative Budget Information (Exhibit D - Budget Information SF-424A)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/871c5025-3b4c-46e7-b7eb-56ebf8d1688f/file) — official: https://mvendor.cgieva.com/Vendor/public/IVDetails.jsp?PageTitle=SO+Details&rfp_id_lot=128140&rfp_id_round=1&file=Exhibit%20D%20Budget%20Information%20SF424A-V1.0%201%20.pdf - [VA - 2026 - Ways to Apply](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/868df03f-3c94-4d08-b7b8-36cd87d5656d/file) — official: https://www.ruralhealthtransformationva.virginia.gov/ways-to-apply - [VA - 2026 - Implementation](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/94f090c3-92e5-47c7-a04d-e572ecdef912/file) — official: https://www.ruralhealthtransformationva.virginia.gov/implementation - [VA - 2026 - RHTP Earn to Learn Initiative Request for Applications Question and Answer](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/9c5642a9-2036-4918-9631-004a19fc7e5c/file) — official: https://virginiaworks.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/RHT-Question-and-Answer-Response.pdf - [VA - 2026 - Now Open: Earn to Learn – Rural Health Workforce Grant Opportunity](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/cb51c675-6172-4f55-a34e-9a167abf3426/file) — official: https://virginiaworks.gov/virginia-rural-health-transformation-program-rhtp/ - [VA - 2026 - Virginia RHT](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/ddba7de4-4efc-49eb-aeac-4ed4b85232d1/file) — official: https://www.ruralhealthtransformationva.virginia.gov/ More Virginia RHTP activity: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/va (markdown: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/va.md) --- Source: Rural Care Journey (RCJ), https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/virginia-rural-health-transformation-program-rhtp-earn-to-learn-initiative--d052dbd7bb — data as of 2026-10-17. Cite the RCJ page for the summary and the linked official source for authoritative terms, deadlines, and amounts.