Nashville, TN - State Reps. Tim Rudd, Charlie Baum and Bryan Terry, all of Murfreesboro, have secured $2,146,000 in state funding for Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in Murfreesboro.

The funding will help fund scholarships for the joint public-private partnership in the Meharry Medical Schools’ Early Acceptance Program (MSEAP).

“MTSU’s early acceptance program into the Meharry Medical School provides a quality opportunity for students to achieve success while also helping increase the number of physicians in Tennessee,” the lawmakers said in a joint statement. “This funding will extend scholarship opportunities to qualified students who need them. We thank our colleagues for recognizing the incredible role MTSU plays in educating the next generation of professionals in Tennessee.”

MSEAP is a seven-year program that is open to incoming freshmen that allows them to be accepted as an undergraduate and later graduate from Meharry Medical College. The goal of the program is to increase health care access for rural and underserved communities in the state by increasing the number of primary care providers.

The appropriated funds are part of a $52.8 billion zero-debt balanced budget that was passed by the General Assembly in April. Republican priorities include significant investments in rural and behavioral health care, school safety, education and public safety.

State Reps. Tim Rudd of House District 34, Charlie Baum of House District 37 and Bryan Terry of House District 48 each represent part of Rutherford County.