YANKTON, S.D. (Dakota News Now) - On Wednesday, the state held the first of five input meetings for the Rural Health Transformation Program Grant in Yankton.

The state is hoping to receive $100-200 million from the grant every year for the next five years.

Accessibility and recruitment were the two biggest challenges that health officials at Wednesday’s meeting in Yankton said were affecting a rural state like South Dakota.

Brock Rops, the Executive Director of the South Dakota Health Occupation Students of America, said investment in health education grants can go a long way to helping students make career decisions to work in a small town.

“Growing up, when they can reflect, ‘Oh, I had a really great upbringing in Kadoka, Iriquois or Faulkton, and now I got a family and I know I got

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