New Grant Empowers Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area to Expand Local Pathways for Aspiring Nurses
Sep 23, 2025
Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area
CEDAR PARK, Texas – Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area (WSRCA), the certified workforce authority serving nine Central Texas counties, has been awarded a $300,000 grant to launch its Rural Nursing Initiative as part of the part of the inaugural cohort of the statewide Streamlining Success in Nursing Programs in Texas project. Backed by the Trellis Foundation and UpSkill America at the Aspen Institute, the three-year effort will align workforce boards, higher education institutions, healthcare providers, and community partners to reduce the barriers that prevent nursing students from completing their education and entering the workforce. The initiative builds on WSRCA’s long-standing commitment to expanding healthcare career opportunities in rural communities, giving residents pathways to rewarding jobs and helping providers stabilize their staffing needs.
“Central Texas faces an urgent demand for nurses, particularly in rural communities where shortages are most severe,” said Paul Fletcher, CEO of Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area. “Too many aspiring healthcare workers encounter obstacles that stop them short of becoming nurses. As the region’s workforce authority, we have the solutions to change that. This grant allows us to continue delivering results by building a stronger and more sustainable nursing pipeline, creating opportunity for students, and ensuring our communities have the care they depend on.”
Sarah Ruddy, Chief Business Development Officer for WSRCA, emphasized the importance of strong collaboration with healthcare employers. “By working directly with providers to identify both current and future workforce needs, we can ensure the solutions developed through this initiative are responsive, practical, and sustainable. These partnerships are critical to building a pipeline of nurses who are prepared to meet the evolving demands of our healthcare system.”
Labor market data shows that Central Texas will need more than 6,000 additional registered nurses over the next decade, making nursing one of the region’s fastest-growing occupations. Yet rural hospitals and clinics already face staffing shortages that drive up costs and limit access to care. WSRCA’s Rural Nursing Initiative addresses this challenge by strengthening pathways across nine counties, supporting student success, and expanding opportunities to earn credit through employment.
Key actions include:
- Hiring a Healthcare Industry Director to coordinate partners and drive implementation
- Convening working groups to address barriers to clinical placements and paid clinical opportunities
- Expanding earn-and-learn models such as apprenticeships and internships that provide real-world experience while fulfilling degree requirements
- Supporting flexible clinical placements, including evenings, weekends, and rural sites, to widen access for students and employers
- Providing wraparound services such as tutoring, childcare tuition assistance, and transportation so students can persist and graduate
- Developing communication tools that demonstrate the return on investment for employers who adopt innovative workforce strategies
WSRCA recognizes that challenges remain, including employer concerns about costs and liability, shortages of faculty and clinical sites, and the need for stronger K-12 and prerequisite pipelines. These barriers are significant, but they are not new. For years, WSRCA has worked with its industry partners to test innovative models and align education with workforce needs. Together with higher education institutions, healthcare providers, and community organizations, these efforts continue to expand access to nursing education, strengthen student preparation, and advance pathways that equip more Central Texans to complete their training and serve their communities.
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About Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area
Workforce Solutions Rural Capital (WSRCA) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) community partnership and the certified workforce authority for the nine-county Rural Capital Area of Central Texas, which includes Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, Llano, and Williamson counties. WSRCA strengthens regional prosperity by connecting people, employers, and opportunities through no-cost services such as career coaching, training in high-demand fields, child care tuition scholarships, hiring events, and labor market insights. By equipping residents with skills for career success and providing employers with tailored workforce solutions, WSRCA helps ensure the region remains competitive, resilient, and ready for growth.
About UpSkill America
UpSkill America works with employers and workforce organizations to expand and improve high-quality education and career advancement opportunities for America’s frontline workers. The initiative promotes collaborative solutions that benefit employers, employees, and communities, recognizing that shared value drives long-term success. UpSkill America engages employers, civic organizations, workforce intermediaries, and policymakers to implement strategies that create better jobs, strengthen businesses, and build stronger communities. It is an initiative of the Economic Opportunities Program at The Aspen Institute.
About Trellis Foundation
Trellis Foundation is a public charitable organization dedicated to improving postsecondary attainment for low-income students and students of color in Texas. The foundation takes a collaborative approach, prioritizing catalytic investments that inform and drive changes in policy, practice, and systems to expand educational access and success.
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