No Halo News · Sourced development
1982 Foundation announces $5.7 million rural healthcare training center serving 14 West Virginia counties
The 1982 Foundation announced plans to open the Onward Upward Healthcare Workforce Accelerator in the former Calhoun County High School in Grantsville. According to WDTV, foundation president Crystal Mersh said a $5.7 million U.S. Department of Labor WORC 7 grant will support four training tracks: nursing, allied health, medical assisting and emergency medical technician training. The planned center is expected to serve as many as 200 students annually across Calhoun County and 13 other counties and work with 10 healthcare partners, including Vandalia Health and WVU Medicine.
Status matters. This page records a sourced development, not a completed No Halo investigation. An allegation is not a finding. Dismissals, settlements, judgments, corrections and final outcomes remain distinct.
Donor relevance
Why this matters
The project represents a major expansion for a relatively young rural nonprofit and could add a substantial healthcare-workforce pipeline in an area reporting limited labor-force participation and shortages of healthcare workers. The reported grant is also large relative to the foundation's recent annual operations.
Attribution
Who reported or established this
WDTV reporter Nick Volpetti reported the announcement and attributed the grant amount, projected enrollment, service area and partnership count to 1982 Foundation president Crystal Mersh and participating local officials.
Evidence limits
What remains unverified
No Halo has not independently reviewed the federal grant agreement, confirmed the obligations or disbursement schedule, verified all 10 partnership agreements, or established when instruction will begin. The projected annual enrollment and workforce results have not yet been demonstrated.
Right of reply
Organization response
Foundation president Crystal Mersh said the center is intended to address limited access to healthcare workers in rural West Virginia and described the redevelopment of her former high school as an investment in local students and communities.
Classification
How No Halo records this event
Event type: Operational Expansion. Current state: Pending. No Halo preserves the current procedural state rather than treating every mention as a finding.
Published October 19, 2026 · Last verified October 21, 2026. See an error or a later outcome? Submit a correction or right of reply.