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Northern Border Regional Commission and HRSA Announce Funding Opportunity to Strengthen Rural Health Care Networks Across Northern Border Region

Applications Due July 10, 2026

The Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC), in partnership with the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy within the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), is pleased to announce the availability of funding through the Rural Northern Border Region Network Planning (RNBR-NP) Program.

The program will provide approximately 18 awards of up to $100,000 each to support the development and strengthening of healthcare networks serving rural communities across Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont. A total of $1.8 million is expected to be available in Fiscal Year 2026. Awards will support a one-year project period beginning September 30, 2026.

The RNBR-NP Program supports the creation of new healthcare partnerships and the enhancement of existing networks that improve access to care, strengthen care coordination, increase efficiency, and build stronger rural health systems throughout the Northern Border Region.

Eligible applicants include public and private organizations, nonprofit and for-profit entities, tribes and tribal organizations, hospitals, Rural Emergency Hospitals, Rural Health Clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers, Community Health Centers, institutions of higher education, local governments, and other organizations with demonstrated experience serving rural populations in the Northern Border Region.

Applicants must represent a healthcare network consisting of at least three separately owned healthcare provider organizations working collaboratively to address local and regional healthcare challenges.

Funded projects must support one or more of the program's legislative aims:

  • Achieve efficiencies within rural healthcare systems through regional planning, needs assessments, workforce analyses, sustainability planning, and strengthened systems of care.
  • Expand access to, coordinate, and improve the quality of basic healthcare services and associated health outcomes through enhanced partnerships between healthcare providers, social service organizations, transportation providers, disability services, community health workers, and other community partners.
  • Strengthen the rural healthcare system through integrated care models, workforce development and retention strategies, telehealth and broadband planning, cross-organizational collaboration, community engagement, and long-term sustainability planning.

The program's goals are to build and strengthen healthcare partnerships serving rural communities in the Northern Border Region and to identify sustainable strategies that continue improving healthcare access and outcomes beyond the grant period.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to attend an informational webinar to learn more about program requirements, eligibility, and the application process. Webinar registration information is available through the funding opportunity announcement.

For more information and to apply: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/361798

*This program is administered directly through the Federal Office of Rural Health, not the NBRC.