Garden City Community College
GARDEN CITY – Garden City Community College (GCCC) has been awarded a $3,439,901 grant through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) as part of the Kansas Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), a major statewide investment aimed at strengthening access to healthcare and workforce development across rural Kansas.
GCCC will serve as the lead institution for the “Frontline Futures” partnership, working in collaboration with Newman University, Colby Community College and Seward County Community College.
The initiative will expand clinical training opportunities and strengthen the regional healthcare workforce pipeline across western and southwestern Kansas.
The grant will support the development and expansion of healthcare education pathways across western Kansas. Funding will help launch a Diagnostic Medical Sonography program in Garden City through Newman University in fall 2026, followed by an accelerated Radiologic Technology program in fall 2027.
The grant will also support the expansion of GCCC’s Community Health Worker and Registered Medical Assistant programs to additional locations across Western Kansas, including Seward County Community College and Colby Community College.
Additionally, funding will also be used to enhance clinical training capacity, provide professional development opportunities, support new allied health staffing, and offer student stipends to strengthen recruitment and retention in high-demand healthcare fields.
GCCC President Dr. Ryan Ruda said the grant represents a transformative opportunity for both the college and the region.
“We are extremely grateful to KDHE for their support in making this funding possible and identifying the power of collaboration that exists within our region. This grant will help develop new programs, purchase equipment, bring on new allied health positions, provide professional development, and support student stipends,” Ruda said. “This is truly a transformational grant for the region, and we look forward to partnering with Newman University, Colby Community College, and Seward County Community College to drive meaningful change in healthcare access and workforce development.”
The grant award was announced through KDHE’s Regional Partnerships Grant Program (RPGP) and Rural Emergency Hospital Conversion/Transformative Capital Investment Program (REH/CAP), both funded through the Kansas Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). In total, $79.1 million has been awarded to 39 organizations across the state, representing a significant investment in strengthening healthcare access in rural Kansas.
RHTP is a five-year opportunity created to infuse $50 billion nationwide into state health care systems and bolster rural communities by improving access to and the quality of care available to them.
Kansas received the sixth-highest award and has since been implementing its Year 1 RHTP initiatives, which direct targeted resources to high-need areas throughout the state, with a focus on sustaining critical, high-quality health care access and services for rural Kansas.
“These investments reflect the power of collaboration and long-term planning in addressing the unique health care needs of rural Kansas communities,” said Governor Laura Kelly in a KDHE release. “By supporting regional partnerships, rural hospitals, and critical infrastructure improvements, the Rural Health Transformation Program is empowering communities to strengthen local health systems, improve access to high-quality care, and build a more sustainable future for rural Kansans.”
Awardees were selected through a competitive application process that evaluated proposals based on community need, long-term financial sustainability, innovation, and alignment with federal and state rural health priorities.
To learn more about KDHE’s Rural Health Transformation Program, visit: Rural Health Transformation Program.
