Rural Health
News by Topic: Community and economic development
Apr 7, 2026 - The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is accepting applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2026 Passenger Ferry Program, Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program, and Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program. Applications are due by May 11, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Related funding:
Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program
Apr 6, 2026 - A North Carolina hospital that closed in 2023 may be reopened as the state's first Rural Emergency Hospital. Discusses funding and the impact on local economies when facilities close.
Source: North Carolina Health News
RBS: Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Delta Health Care Services Grant (DHCS) for Fiscal Year 2026
Federal Register
Apr 6, 2026 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) is accepting applications for the Delta Health Care Services (DHCS) grant program for fiscal year 2026. The purpose of the program is to address the unmet healthcare needs in the Delta Region through cooperation among healthcare professionals, institutions of higher education, research institutions, and economic development entities in the region.
Source: Federal Register
Related funding:
Delta Health Care Services Grant Program
Apr 2, 2026 - Describes community costs associated with regulations for addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contaminations in North Carolina wastewater systems. Discusses challenges for small water systems with focus on one community that faces increased costs after the main employer and town's primary water ratepayer closed.
Source: North Carolina Health News
Apr 1, 2026 - Discusses population shifts in rural communities between 2024 and 2025. Identifies areas of population decline despite national trends toward growth.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Mar 26, 2026 - Highlights housing policies from rural Maine, North Dakota, Washington, and Oregon that make their communities more affordable and livable, including for older adults and residents with disabilities.
Source: AARP
Mar 25, 2026 - Highlights work in New Hampshire, Colorado, and Maine to turn public places into gathering spaces that support community needs, promote wellness and accessibility, social programs, and more.
Source: AARP
Mar 24, 2026 - Discusses how a new dashboard offering Tennessee county-level data on various healthcare and quality of life measures will aid researchers and policymakers in understanding and impacting rural communities. Notes that programs such as the Rural Health Transformation Program will benefit from having data to help direct money to the areas most in need.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Mar 17, 2026 - Describes Auburn Rural Studio, an architecture program based in rural Alabama. Describes the student-driven community development work over 30 years and the local benefits such as affordable housing. Notes that the program considers not just housing but also community resources such as reliable wastewater systems and public spaces.
Feb 24, 2026 - Describes the challenges small communities face with maintaining water systems with focus on two communities in Arkansas and Louisiana. Discusses funding, workforce, and aging infrastructure as barriers to consistently providing clean drinking water.
Source: WWNO, NPR