CONCORD, NH – The Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) is pleased to announce that $1.67 million in federal funding has been awarded to 14 organizations working to strengthen healthcare networks and improve access to care in rural communities across Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont.
The awards are made possible through NBRC’s partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), through the Rural Northern Border Region Network Planning (RNBR-NP) Program. The RNBR-NP Program supports the creation of new healthcare partnerships and the strengthening of existing networks to improve access to care, enhance care coordination, increase efficiency, and build stronger rural healthcare systems throughout the Northern Border Region.
The 14 selected projects address a range of regional healthcare needs, including pediatric specialty care, maternal health, behavioral health, oral health, primary care access, early childhood development, housing and healthcare coordination, and shared healthcare infrastructure. Through collaborative planning, these projects will help participating organizations identify service gaps, develop coordinated approaches to care, and establish strategies to sustain improvements beyond the grant period.
“Adequate access to healthcare is a critical component of a healthy rural economy. These partnership awards will help expand access and close gaps within the existing healthcare system across the NBRC region,” said Chris Saunders, NBRC’s Federal Co-Chair.
HRSA works with regional partners such as NBRC to strengthen rural healthcare systems, expand access to quality services, and address disparities affecting underserved populations. By supporting collaborative planning and sustainable partnerships, the RNBR-NP Program helps rural communities develop the infrastructure and relationships needed to improve healthcare access and outcomes over the long term.
Each recipient will receive $119,705 to support a one-year planning project designed to build partnerships, improve coordination, and develop sustainable approaches to addressing rural healthcare challenges.
View Full Press Release with Awards List
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About the NBRC
Created in 2008, the Northern Border Regional Commission is a federal-state partnership whose mission is to catalyze community vitality and economic prosperity in Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont through flexible funding and strategic support.
About Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
HRSA collaborates with regional partners like the Northern Border Regional Commission to expand access to high-quality healthcare and services in underserved areas to address healthcare disparities, improve health outcomes, and strengthen local health systems, ensuring residents in
these rural communities receive the care they need. Learn more online at https://www.hrsa.gov/