Bethany College Awarded $400,000 ARC POWER Grant to Expand Nursing Education in Northern Panhandle 

BETHANY, W.Va. (Sept. 21, 2026) — Bethany College has been awarded a $400,000 Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to support the launch and expansion of its Nurse Education and Workforce (NEW) Project, an initiative designed to strengthen the healthcare workforce throughout West Virginia’s Northern Panhandle. 

The NEW Project builds upon Bethany College’s partnership with West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) to provide students with an innovative pathway to earn both a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies from Bethany and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from WVWC. Students will live and participate in campus life at Bethany while completing coursework toward both degrees. 

Clinical experiences will be supported through partnerships with WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital and WVU Medicine Reynolds Memorial Hospital, creating a direct connection between nursing education and the healthcare workforce needs of the region. 

“This investment from the Appalachian Regional Commission is a tremendous opportunity for Bethany College and the Northern Panhandle,” said Bethany President Dr. Jamie Caridi. “We’re creating opportunities for students to gain valuable skills, connect their education to meaningful careers and contribute to the continued growth of our region.”  

ARC funding will help Bethany establish the infrastructure needed to launch and sustain the program, including nursing simulation technology, equipment and supplies, as well as personnel dedicated to coordinating clinical education, student support, and relationships with regional healthcare providers. 

The project is designed to address a continuing shortage of nurses and other healthcare professionals in W.Va., particularly in the rural communities of Brooke, Ohio, and Marshall counties. The initiative also aligns with ARC’s POWER program’s focus on diversifying and strengthening the economies of communities affected by changes in the coal industry. 

“Providing students with a rigorous nursing education close to home can have a transformational impact on both our students and the communities we serve,” said Dr. Jeff Breese, vice president for academic affairs. “Through our partnership with WVWC and WVU Medicine, students will receive exceptional academic preparation and clinical experiences while developing the skills needed to enter one of our region’s most critically important professions. This is exactly the type of academic partnership Bethany wants to build on — one that connects education directly to opportunity.” 

Bethany’s NEW Project is expected to enroll an initial cohort of nursing students and expand enrollment in subsequent years. The College’s long-term goal is to prepare at least 100 new nurses within six years, helping create a sustainable pipeline of healthcare professionals who can live and work throughout W.Va. and the Appalachian region. 

The project also creates opportunities for individuals and families from communities affected by the decline of the coal economy to enter a stable, high-demand healthcare profession. Bethany plans to recruit students from throughout the Northern Panhandle, including regional high schools, transfer students, and individuals from coal-impacted communities. 

The POWER Initiative is an ARC initiative that directs federal resources to communities and regions affected by job losses associated with the changing energy economy.