Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Kentucky Research Foundation received a $491,243 Project Grant from the Bureau of Health Professionals under the Grants to States for Loan Repayment program (CFDA 93.165), awarded on July 1, 2026, with a completion date of June 30, 2029. This grant funds Kentucky's educational loan repayment program designed to increase the availability of primary health care clinicians in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). The Research Foundation administers the program to provide loan repayment assistance to eligible healthcare providers—including physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, mental health professionals, registered nurses, and pharmacists—who commit to practicing in designated underserved communities within Kentucky.

Under this three-year award, the Research Foundation delivers loan repayment services that facilitate healthcare workforce retention and recruitment in medically underserved populations. The grant supports the operational framework for processing loan repayment awards to qualified primary care providers, with maximum repayment assistance of $75,000 for primary care practitioners and $50,000 for dental and mental health professionals. This initiative reflects a federal investment in healthcare workforce development that addresses critical access-to-care challenges in rural and underserved urban areas throughout Kentucky.