Illinois Funding & Opportunities

Illinois AHEC Scholars Program
A multidisciplinary certificate program for health professions students in Illinois that offers opportunities for hands-on training, experience in rural communities, and networking with other students and professionals.

Illinois Rural Health Experience (RHE) Program
A field experience for health professions students in Illinois to observe rural healthcare providers and their communities.

Illinois Underserved Physician Workforce (UPW) Loan Repayment Program
Funding to assist communities in recruiting physicians to their nonprofit healthcare facilities in Heath Professional Shortage Areas in Illinois. Practice location sites register and agree to sponsor any provider who wishes to be considered for the program. Providers may receive loan repayment in return for service at an approved site.

North Central Region Extension Collaboration and Implementation Grants
Funding for land grant institutions extension programs working to create resilient communities and economies, developing leadership and civic engagement, and promoting community health and wellness in rural areas of the North Central Region of the U.S.

North Central Regional Center for Rural Development Fellows Program
Fellowships for faculty or staff from Land Grant Institutions to collaborate with NCRCRD staff on research and/or outreach projects that will enhance rural development in the North Central Region.

Thematic Working Groups in the North Central Region
Funding for multistate, regional working groups focusing on creating resilient communities and economies, developing leadership and civic engagement, and promoting community health and wellness that integrates research and Extension programs.

Local Economy Lab: Funding to Support Coal Communities in Transition Inactive
Funding and technical assistance to help coal communities build community-led economic transition projects. Community-driven solutions will be across 3 strategy areas: workforce development, entrepreneurship/small business support, and place-based infrastructure.

Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC): Grant Initiative for the Appalachian, Delta, and Northern Border Regions Inactive
Grants for projects in the Appalachian, Lower Mississippi Delta, and Northern Border regions that will provide career, training, and support services to eligible individuals in eligible counties and parishes. Grants will support workforce development activities that prepare dislocated workers, new entrants to the workforce, and incumbent workers for good jobs in high-demand occupations aligned with a regional or community economic development strategy. High demand industries include manufacturing, IT, healthcare, business, and energy.

Delta Rural Integrated Health Network Program Inactive
Funding to improve healthcare delivery in the Delta region by supporting the development of integrated health networks among rural hospitals, primary care clinics, behavioral health providers, and other essential healthcare organizations.

Illinois Podiatric Medicine Scholarship Inactive
Scholarships for podiatric physician students who agree to practice in a shortage area of Illinois upon graduation.