RHAU Awarded Two Capacity Building Grants from National Rural Health Association

January 5, 2026 | St. George, Utah — The Rural Health Association of Utah (RHAU) announced today that it has received two grants totaling $35,000 from the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) to strengthen the organization’s capacity in two priority areas: advocacy and healthy aging.

The first award, the MacKenzie Scott Fund for Capacity Building Grant, will support RHAU’s advocacy efforts throughout 2026. “As Utah’s State Rural Health Association, expanding our advocacy footprint and ensuring a strong presence during the 2026 Utah Legislative Session is not only a priority, but a necessity as our organization continues to grow,” said Kasey Shakespear, Executive Director of RHAU. “Over the past year, we have assembled a strong and engaged Advocacy Committee, and this funding will allow us to take meaningful next steps toward becoming a more effective voice for rural Utah.”

RHAU also received the National Rural Age-Friendly Initiative grant, a highly competitive award awarded to only three State Rural Health Associations nationwide for 2026. Through this initiative, RHAU will lead efforts to convene partners across Utah who are engaged in Age-Friendly programs. The grant will support coordination among these partners to strengthen their participation in the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program applications and ensure alignment with existing age-friendly efforts. Funding will also support the planning and delivery of an Age-Friendly Pre-Conference Workshop at the 2026 Annual RHAU Conference.

Matt McCullough added, “As the RHAU Board President for 2026, I want to thank and congratulate Kasey Shakespear for his work with the NRHA to receive these two grants, which will help RHAU strengthen our advocacy voice for rural health and improve coordination of age-friendly programs in Utah. Both grants are perfectly in line with our mission to "unify the voice of rural Utah, enhancing healthcare quality through leadership, advocacy, networking, education, and policy influence.”

About RHAU

The Rural Health Association of Utah (RHAU) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health and healthcare access in rural Utah. As the state’s designated State Rural Health Association, RHAU works to unify rural stakeholders, advance policy and advocacy efforts, and provide education and collaboration opportunities that strengthen rural communities across the state.

You can learn more about the Rural Health Association of Utah at rhau.org