Rural Health Research Dissemination Program

The Rural Health Research Dissemination Program, administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), offers funding to support the dissemination of rural health services research across the United States. HRSA is an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, dedicated to improving health care for people who are geographically isolated, economically or medically vulnerable. This specific initiative reflects HRSA’s commitment to ensuring that research findings related to rural health are accessible to decision makers, community leaders, health providers, and stakeholders at all levels—national, state, and local. The objective of the program is to fund a single entity that will serve as the primary disseminator of rural health services research findings. The selected awardee will be responsible for maintaining a public-facing website that consolidates and organizes research from HRSA’s Rural Health Research Center (RHRC) Program and other relevant cooperative agreements. This central repository will ensure open access to current research, supporting informed decision-making and advancing health outcomes in rural communities. In addition to the website, the awardee is expected to develop and implement diverse and innovative strategies for outreach. These strategies may include managing a listserv, utilizing social media, hosting or participating in national conferences and exhibits, and organizing webinars. The goal is to ensure that rural health stakeholders can easily access, understand, and apply research findings in real-world policy and practice contexts. The funding mechanism for this opportunity is a cooperative agreement, allowing for substantial involvement by HRSA in the performance of the funded project. The total estimated program funding is $230,000, with a maximum award ceiling also set at $230,000. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement for this program. Only one award is expected to be made under this opportunity. Eligibility for the program is broad and inclusive. Applicants may include state and local governments, independent school districts, institutions of higher education (both public and private), nonprofit and for-profit organizations (including small businesses), special district governments, and Native American tribal governments and organizations. However, all eligible applicants must be domestic, defined as being located within the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, or U.S. territories and freely associated states. The forecasted grant opportunity is currently in the early engagement phase, with the estimated posting date set for March 18, 2026. Applications are expected to be due by April 21, 2026, and the award announcement anticipated by June 1, 2026. The project start date is projected to be July 1, 2026. Interested applicants should prepare to monitor the opportunity’s progress on Grants.gov and plan for a timely submission upon opening. For further information, the primary point of contact is Karis Tyner, available at [email protected] or (301) 287-2615.