A program to recruit and train health-care workers in upstate New York will receive $1.6 million from the state, the Iroquois Healthcare Association announced Wednesday.

Gov. George Pataki announced Wednesday the IHA would receive $1,634,952, according to the association. IHA will use the money to continue recruitment and training programs started under an earlier grant, according to Joanne O'Brien, director of the association's Upstate Health Workforce Center.

The initiative aims to draw employees to health care by marketing health careers to students and adults, and providing training to eligible members of the community and employees of hospitals and nursing homes. Eligibility is based on income level and family size.

The money was awarded under a competitive grant process for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families funds. The TANF Health Worker Training Initiative is a collaboration between the state departments of Health and Labor, and the Office of Children and Family Services.

The IHA said it applied for the grant on behalf of almost 80 hospitals, nursing homes and home care agencies, some 40 educational centers, and more than 75 local agencies.

Area participants include: A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital, Bassett Healthcare, Bassett Hospital of Schoharie County, Chenango Memorial Hospital, Delaware Valley Hospital, O'Connor Hospital, The Hospital in Sidney, Bassett Healthcare Surgical Technology Program, Delaware-Chenango-Madison-Otsego Board of Cooperative Educational Services, Hartwick College, Otsego Northern Catskills BOCES, and State University of New York campuses at Cobleskill and Delhi.

"We were hoping, long term, it would at least give some of these people an opportunity to look at health care as a potential career," said Dotti Kruppo, spokeswoman for Delaware Valley Hospital in Walton.

Someone who becomes a nursing aide, for example, might decide to study to be a nurse, she said.

In general, Kruppo said, there is always a need at the hospital for nurses, nurse aides, technicians, and physical assistants and aides.

The IHA is a trade organization with 58 hospital and health system members across upstate.