Rural and Underserved Clinical Rotations Grant Program
This funding opportunity supports health professional training programs in Minnesota to expand clinical rotations in rural and underserved areas, enhancing healthcare access and workforce diversity.
The 2025 Rural and Underserved Clinical Rotations Grant Program is administered by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Office of Rural Health and Primary Care. This program, authorized by Minnesota Statutes Sec 144.1505, aims to strengthen Minnesota’s healthcare workforce and improve access to healthcare for rural and underserved communities. The funder prioritizes fairness, equity, and diversity in grant-making, ensuring that diverse populations experiencing health disparities benefit from expanded clinical training opportunities. The program provides competitive funding to eligible health professional training programs to add or expand rural and underserved clinical rotations or training experiences. This includes credential or certificate rural tracks or specialized training in rural and underserved settings. For physician and dentist training programs, rotations must occur in primary care settings such as community clinics, hospitals, health maintenance organizations, or rural practices. Priority is given to programs that demonstrate strong partnerships with clinical training sites and an ongoing commitment to training healthcare professionals for rural service. An estimated total funding pool of $1,000,000 to $1,500,000 is available, with expected individual awards up to $400,000. Approximately 4 to 6 awards will be granted. There is no match requirement for applicants. The grant period is projected from November 1, 2025, through October 31, 2026, and awards will be announced in late August 2025. Applications open on June 4, 2025, and must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. Central Time on July 25, 2025. An informational webinar will be held on June 25, 2025. All questions about the RFP should be submitted by email to Health.ORHPC.WorkforceGrants@state.mn.us no later than 4:30 p.m. Central Time on July 16, 2025. Eligible applicants include clinical training programs in Minnesota that are part of institutions of higher education, hospitals, or other entities. Eligible program types are Advanced Practice Registered Nursing, Dental, Dental Therapy/Advanced Dental Therapy, Mental Health Professional, Pharmacy, Physician Residency, and Physician Assistant programs. Specific accreditation or credible plans for accreditation are required for each program type. Applicants must submit letters of commitment from clinical training sites demonstrating partnership and available training slots. Applications must be submitted via the ORHPC online Grants Portal and must include required materials such as audited financial statements, proof of accreditation, letters of commitment from clinical sites, a conflict of interest disclosure form, and a detailed budget and budget narrative. The project narrative must address need, trainee recruitment and retention, program outcomes, sustainability, and evaluation plans. Evaluation criteria include organizational capacity, partnership strength, project narrative quality, and budget justification, with applications scored out of 100 points. Contact for the grant is through the Office of Rural Health and Primary Care at Health.ORHPC.WorkforceGrants@state.mn.us, phone 651-201-4178. Additional information and materials will be posted on the program website. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit early to avoid technical issues and ensure a complete and competitive application.
Award Range
Not specified - $400,000
Total Program Funding
$1,500,000
Number of Awards
6
Matching Requirement
No
Additional Details
Estimated total funding of $1,000,000 to $1,500,000 will be distributed through a competitive process. Estimated award maximum is $400,000. No matching funds are required. Funding supports establishing or expanding clinical rotations, training, recruitment and retention, travel, faculty and preceptor support, cultural competency training, evaluation, and improvements to training sites.
Eligible Applicants
Additional Requirements
The following types of clinical training programs, which may be part of institutions of higher education, hospitals, or other entities located in Minnesota, are eligible to apply for this funding: • Advanced Practice Registered Nursing Program o Must be accredited as a master’s, doctoral, or postgraduate level advanced practice registered nursing program by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or present a credible plan as a candidate for accreditation. • Dental Program o Must be a dental education program or dental residency training program currently accredited by the accrediting body or present a credible plan as a candidate for accreditation. o Expanded training must include rotations in primary care settings such as community clinics, hospitals, health maintenance organizations, or practices in rural communities. • Dental Therapy Education Program or Advanced Dental Therapy Education Program o Must be approved by the Minnesota Board of Dentistry, or currently accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. • Mental Health Professional Program o Must be accredited and listed as a mental health professional program by the appropriate accrediting body for clinical social work, psychology, marriage and family therapy, or licensed professional clinical counseling, or present a credible plan as a candidate for accreditation. o A mental health professional is defined as an individual providing clinical services in the treatment of mental illness who meets one of the qualifications under MN Statutes Sec. 245I.04, subdivision 2. • Pharmacy Program o Must be accredited as a Doctor of Pharmacy program by the Accreditation Council on Pharmacy Education. 2025 RURAL AND UNDERSERVED CLINICAL ROTATIONS GRANT R F P 5 • Physician Residency Training Program o Must be accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or appropriate accrediting body or present a credible plan as a candidate for accreditation. o Expanded training must include rotations in primary care settings such as community clinics, hospitals, health maintenance organizations, or practices in rural communities. • Physician Assistant Program o Must be accredited as a physician assistant program by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant or present a credible plan as a candidate for accreditation. All applicants must be able to demonstrate applicable membership and compliance with the corresponding accrediting bodies. Grant funds are not transferrable to any other entity. Applicants that are aware of any upcoming mergers, acquisitions, or any other changes in their organization or legal standing, must disclose this information to MDH in their application, or as soon as they are aware of it.
Geographic Eligibility
All
Ensure complete and accurate responses to all required sections; provide strong letters of commitment from clinical sites; submit required documentation of accreditation or credible accreditation plans; submit questions early via email by July 16, 2025; use the online Grants Portal for submission and monitor status.
Application Opens
Not specified
Application Closes
Not specified
Grantor
Minnesota Department of Health (MDH)
Phone
651-201-4178Subscribe to view contact details