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Emergency Rural Health Care Grants

What is the Emergency Rural Health Care Grant Program?

This program provides up to $500 million in grant funding to help broaden access to COVID-19 testing and vaccines, rural health care services, and food assistance through food banks and food distribution facilities. If you wish contact us, please email us at: communityfacilities@usda.gov

American Rescue Plan Act

The Emergency Rural Health Care program is designed to help broaden access to COVID-19 testing and vaccines, rural health care services, and food assistance through food banks and food distribution facilities.  

Rural health care is challenged by immediate financial needs stemming from COVID-19 related expenses. Long-term access to – and availability of – rural health care services have been further hampered as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to these challenges, this program offers two tracks of funding to eligible applicants. 

  • Track One: Recovery Grants provide immediate relief to address the economic conditions arising from the COVID-19 emergency
  • Track Two: Impact Grants advance ideas and solutions to solve regional rural health care problems to support the long-term sustainability of rural health

Eligible applicants include public bodies, community-based nonprofits, and federally-recognized Tribes. Facilities and projects supported through this grant must be located in rural areas with populations of 20,000 or fewer, and must primarily serve rural areas.

Follow the links below to learn more about the program.

Track One: Recovery Grants

Recovery funds must be used to support immediate health care needs stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, to help prepare for a future pandemic event, or to increase access to quality health care services and improve community health outcomes.  

Track Two: Impact Grants

Impact funds must be used to support the long-term sustainability of rural health care. Long-term sustainability is defined as improved health outcomes, improved access to quality health care, and creating or maintaining sustainable economic development for small communities.