health · HHS-HRSA

Rural Health Network Advancement Program

Health Resources and Services Administration · HRSA-26-082

Closed

Award Range

$0 – $500K

Total Program Funding

$3.0M

Expected Awards

Deadline

July 24, 2026

GRANTQUICK SUMMARYPlain-English Overview

HRSA's Rural Health Network Advancement Program is a pilot giving $3M (6 awards of up to $500K each) to networks of independent rural hospitals and clinics that want to collaborate more effectively. The idea: small rural providers can't compete alone against big consolidated health systems, so this funds the infrastructure to work together — shared services, coordinated care, joint purchasing, quality improvement collaboratives, and new service lines developed collectively.

Who Should Apply

Networks or consortia of 3+ independent rural hospitals, clinics, or health centers. The lead applicant can be urban, but the network members must be predominantly rural providers. Broadly eligible: nonprofits, for-profits, FQHCs, tribal organizations, rural health clinics.

Who Should NOT Apply

Single hospitals or clinics (must be a network), large health systems that already have consolidated infrastructure, urban-only networks, or organizations without existing rural health network relationships.

Key Requirements (Plain English)

•Must be a network of independent rural providers (minimum 3 members)
•Must focus on integrated collaboration and shared operations
•Must demonstrate how network approach addresses structural barriers
•Must aim to strengthen operations, preserve services, or build new care lines
•Lead applicant can be urban but network must serve rural areas
•No cost-sharing required

💡 GrantQuick Tip

This is a PILOT program — 6 awards means HRSA is testing the concept. They want to see networks that can show early collaboration success and articulate exactly how $500K will move them from 'we talk regularly' to 'we share infrastructure and deliver coordinated care.' The strongest applications come from networks that already have a formal governance structure (MOU, shared board, fiscal agent) and can point to specific inefficiencies that network-level investment will fix. Don't just list your members — show what you'll DO together.

Competitiveness: Moderate — 6 awards in a new pilot program. Limited to existing networks (you can't create a network just to apply), but many rural health networks exist and few know about this program.

What This Grant Funds

The Rural Health Network Advancement Program is a pilot initiative to support networks comprised of independent rural hospitals and clinics in integrated network collaboration. It bridges support to offset small scale structural barriers that make it difficult for rural providers to compete in an increasingly consolidated health care system landscape and is designed to help bring economic efficiencies to small independent rural entities by expanding and enhancing their ability to strengthen operations, preserve existing services, and build new lines of care through integrated network collaboration that preserves local autonomy.

Attachments

PDF

HRSA-26-082 - Final.pdf

HRSA-26-082_Final.pdf

PDF

TA Webinar Announcement HRSA-26-082 (Pre-recorded) RHNAP

TA_Webinar_Announcement_HRSA-26-082_Pre-recorded_RHNAP.pdf

Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants include domestic public or private, non-profit or for-profit entities including:Domestic faith-based and community-based organizationsTribes and tribal organizationsFederally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)Community Health CentersRural Health Clinics (RHCs)Hospitals,Rural Emergency Hospitals (REH) The applicant organization may be located in a rural or urban area, but must have demonstrated experience serving, or capacity to serve, populations in rural areas.

Eligible Applicant Types

Independent School DistrictsState GovernmentsOther Tribal OrganizationsPrivate Colleges & UniversitiesFederally Recognized Tribal GovernmentsFor-Profit OrganizationsOther (see NOFO for details)County GovernmentsCity/Township Governments501(c)(3) NonprofitsSmall BusinessesNonprofits without 501(c)(3)Special District GovernmentsPublic Colleges & UniversitiesPublic And Indian Housing AuthoritiesUnrestricted (open to all)

Funding Details

Maximum Award: $500K
Total Program Funding: $3.0M
Expected Number of Awards: 6
Cost Sharing Required?: No
Funding Instrument: grant

Key Dates

Posted: June 24, 2026

Application Deadline: July 24, 2026 (0 days remaining)

Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m., ET, on the listed application due date.

Agency Contact

Maribel Nunez mnunez@hrsa.gov

mnunez@hrsa.gov

Ready to apply?

View the full NOFO and submit your application on Grants.gov

View on Grants.gov