Education and Training of the Rural Healthcare Workforce – Funding & Opportunities
For additional funding options, please see RHIhub's Online Library: Funding & Opportunities
Nurse Education, Practice, Quality, and Retention - Transition to Practice Program (NEPQR-TPP)
Inactive
Funding to support innovative educational and clinical training opportunities, thus increasing the nursing workforce and addressing the nursing shortage in rural and medically vulnerable communities.
Funding to support innovative educational and clinical training opportunities, thus increasing the nursing workforce and addressing the nursing shortage in rural and medically vulnerable communities.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories
Application Deadline: Jul 17, 2026
Sponsors: Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Application Deadline: Jul 17, 2026
Sponsors: Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Regional Public Health Training Centers Program
Inactive
Grants to support Public Health Training Centers that offer student traineeships, field placements, technical assistance, and targeted training designed to increase and strengthen the supply of a high-quality public health workforce professionals for rural and medically vulnerable communities.
Grants to support Public Health Training Centers that offer student traineeships, field placements, technical assistance, and targeted training designed to increase and strengthen the supply of a high-quality public health workforce professionals for rural and medically vulnerable communities.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. Territories
Application Deadline: Jul 17, 2026
Sponsors: Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Application Deadline: Jul 17, 2026
Sponsors: Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Rural Residency Planning and Development Program
Inactive
Grants to expand access to healthcare in rural areas by developing new sustainable rural residency programs, including rural track programs (RTPs). The program will provide start-up funding to create accredited rural residency programs in a qualifying medical specialty.
Grants to expand access to healthcare in rural areas by developing new sustainable rural residency programs, including rural track programs (RTPs). The program will provide start-up funding to create accredited rural residency programs in a qualifying medical specialty.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories
Application Deadline: Jul 8, 2026
Sponsors: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Application Deadline: Jul 8, 2026
Sponsors: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program Grants
Inactive
Grants to help rural communities use advanced telecommunications technology to connect to each other, and the world, overcoming the effects of remoteness and low population density.
Grants to help rural communities use advanced telecommunications technology to connect to each other, and the world, overcoming the effects of remoteness and low population density.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Jun 30, 2026
Sponsors: U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA Rural Development, USDA Rural Utilities Service
Application Deadline: Jun 30, 2026
Sponsors: U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA Rural Development, USDA Rural Utilities Service
Rural Program Directors University
Inactive
A training, networking, and peer learning community for program, associate program, and site directors of rural residency programs, training tracks, and pathways.
A training, networking, and peer learning community for program, associate program, and site directors of rural residency programs, training tracks, and pathways.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Jun 26, 2026
Sponsor: Rural Medical Training Collaborative (formerly the RTT Collaborative)
Application Deadline: Jun 26, 2026
Sponsor: Rural Medical Training Collaborative (formerly the RTT Collaborative)
Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development Grant Program
Inactive
Grants to improve rates of postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and completion among rural students through development of career pathways aligned to high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand industry sectors and occupations in the region. Health and human services are among the in-demand industry clusters.
Grants to improve rates of postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and completion among rural students through development of career pathways aligned to high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand industry sectors and occupations in the region. Health and human services are among the in-demand industry clusters.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Jun 23, 2026
Sponsor: U.S. Department of Labor
Application Deadline: Jun 23, 2026
Sponsor: U.S. Department of Labor
Delta Health Care Services Grant Program
Inactive
Grants to address unmet health needs in the Delta Region through cooperation among healthcare professionals, institutions of higher education, research institutions, and other entities.
Grants to address unmet health needs in the Delta Region through cooperation among healthcare professionals, institutions of higher education, research institutions, and other entities.
Geographic coverage: Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee
Application Deadline: Jun 1, 2026
Sponsors: U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA Rural Development
Application Deadline: Jun 1, 2026
Sponsors: U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA Rural Development
Advancing Native Students in Aging Research
Inactive
A 1-week training course for undergraduate students to develop independent research careers in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias and the mechanisms of aging.
A 1-week training course for undergraduate students to develop independent research careers in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias and the mechanisms of aging.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: May 31, 2026
Sponsors: Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh Development Center
Application Deadline: May 31, 2026
Sponsors: Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh Development Center
Wy'east Medicine Pathway Program
Inactive
A 10-month educational program in Portland, Oregon for American Indian and Alaska Native post-baccalaureate students who were not accepted to medical school or did not get a qualifying MCAT score. Upon successful completion of the program, participants can gain guaranteed or conditional acceptance into Oregon Health and Science University.
A 10-month educational program in Portland, Oregon for American Indian and Alaska Native post-baccalaureate students who were not accepted to medical school or did not get a qualifying MCAT score. Upon successful completion of the program, participants can gain guaranteed or conditional acceptance into Oregon Health and Science University.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: May 8, 2026
Sponsor: Northwest Native American Center of Excellence
Application Deadline: May 8, 2026
Sponsor: Northwest Native American Center of Excellence
NRHA Rural Hospital HR Certification Program
Inactive
A hospital leadership and certification program for rural hospital human resource professionals.
A hospital leadership and certification program for rural hospital human resource professionals.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. Territories
Application Deadline: Apr 23, 2026
Sponsor: National Rural Health Association
Application Deadline: Apr 23, 2026
Sponsor: National Rural Health Association