Strafford County commissioners say they will pursue rural health transformation grant for warming center and nursing-home work

Strafford County Board of Commissioners Chair (speaker S1) said the county plans to pursue funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program to support four projects, naming a warming center and three efforts related to a local nursing home.

"As you all know, the, county is is hopeful to apply for that program for 4 projects," the Chair said, adding that one project would be the warming center and three would address needs at the nursing home, including roof and window work as described in the transcript.

The Chair said the county has received additional information but that the program’s rules and application process have not yet been finalized, and that it could be a few months before clearer guidance is available. That uncertainty means the county will prepare now but wait for the published regulations before submitting a finalized application.

A second speaker (S2) suggested the county consider a fifth opportunity tied to Medicaid and "spend-down" populations and working with local hospitals to place patients. "There might be a fifth opportunity for us, considering that we're totally Medicaid or and or spend down, and we're closely in affiliation with the local hospitals," S2 said, proposing outreach to Wentworth Douglas Hospital as part of the county’s transformation strategy.

County officials did not provide dollar amounts, timelines for each project, or final project descriptions during the discussion. The Chair said the county is "looking forward to working on that" and will await the program’s formal rules before submitting its applications.

Next steps: county staff will monitor publication of the Rural Health Transformation Program rules and continue planning the four (and possibly five) proposed projects before an application is submitted.