(KNZA)--Hiawatha-based KANZA Mental Health & Guidance Center has been awarded nearly $1.4 million through the Kansas Rural Health Transformation Program, part of a statewide effort to strengthen health care access in rural communities.

The grant, totaling $1,354,975, was announced Friday by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment as part of $79.1 million awarded to 39 hospitals and health care providers across Kansas. KANZA serves residents in Brown, Doniphan, Jackson, and Nemaha counties.

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran praised the program, which he helped establish through federal legislation, saying the funding will help rural providers modernize technology, expand services, and improve health outcomes.

Kansas received the sixth-highest allocation nationwide and is expected to receive about $1 billion through the program over the next five years. State officials say the investments will strengthen rural health systems, improve access to care, and support long-term sustainability for providers serving Kansas communities.