Virginia Relaunched Nursing Grant Program
Educational institutions can now apply for grants to bolster nursing pipelines and address persistent labor shortages.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Nursing Jobs
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The Virginia Nursing Workforce Center has relaunched the Earn to Learn grant program, allocating $4.8 million to support nursing education. The initiative seeks to expand regional labor capacity as the state faces significant recruitment challenges.
Why it matters
The program was transferred to improve management efficiency after $10.6 million in scholarship funds remained unused as of June 2026. This shift aims to better distribute resources to address acute nursing shortages, particularly in rural areas.
The program offers up to $400,000 per recipient, with $4.8 million available to disburse. These resources respond to a market demand of over 17,000 registered nurse job postings and a projected 21% retirement rate for Virginia nurses over the next decade.
The players
Virginia Nursing Workforce Center
A state entity responsible for overseeing healthcare personnel recruitment and workforce development.
Abigail Spanberger
The Governor of Virginia who signed legislation to reform health workforce incentive management.
Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority
A state organization tasked with managing the majority of health workforce incentive programs.
The details
Educational institutions must apply for the two-year grants to fund student tuition, fees, stipends, or faculty support. The Virginia Nursing Workforce Center evaluates applications based on an institution's capacity to recruit students and retain graduates within the state. This relaunch follows a March 2026 legislative mandate that moved 60% of health workforce incentive programs to the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority.
Timeline
March 2026: The General Assembly approved legislation to transfer program management.
April 2026: Governor Abigail Spanberger signed the legislation into law.
June 2, 2026: State records identified $10.6 million in unused scholarship funds.
July 2026: Management of incentive programs moved to the workforce authority.
September 30, 2026: Deadline for grant program applications.
Market Landscape
This effort follows the 2026 Virginia health workforce incentive legislation designed to centralize and improve the management of state nursing grants. The strategy reflects a broader trend of shifting workforce oversight to specialized authorities to address long-term labor gaps.
Healthcare operators and educational providers should evaluate whether their recruitment and training pipelines qualify for these state funds. With 21% of the nursing workforce projected to retire within a decade, institutions should prioritize internal retention strategies alongside state-funded expansion.
The takeaway
The administrative overhaul aims to ensure that millions in previously dormant scholarship funds reach educational institutions tasked with building the next generation of nurses. Operators should monitor the distribution of these grants to identify potential partners for recruitment and student clinical placement.
What happens next
The application window for institutions to request grant funding closes on September 30, 2026.
Further reading
For additional context on hiring trends and credentialing, see the latest updates in Nursing Jobs.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cardinal News.
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