Rural Northern Border Region Network Planning Program

The Rural Northern Border Region Network Planning Program is administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This federal program is designed to strengthen healthcare delivery systems in rural communities located within the Northern Border Region, specifically across the states of Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont. HRSA has a long-standing mission to improve access to healthcare services for underserved and geographically isolated populations, and this program aligns with that mission by focusing on collaborative, network-based solutions to rural health challenges. The purpose of the program is to provide one year of funding to support the development and planning of healthcare networks. These networks are intended to bring together multiple stakeholders such as hospitals, clinics, public health organizations, and community-based providers to collectively address gaps in care. By fostering collaboration, the program aims to increase the capacity of rural providers, improve access to essential health services, and enhance the overall quality of care delivered in these regions. The emphasis is on planning and coordination rather than direct service expansion, meaning funds are primarily used to build relationships, assess needs, and design sustainable network models. Funding under this opportunity is structured as discretionary grants, with an estimated total program funding of 1,800,000 dollars and approximately 18 awards anticipated. Individual awards are expected to reach up to 100,000 dollars for a one-year project period. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement associated with this funding, which lowers barriers to entry for smaller or resource-limited organizations. Funds are expected to support activities such as network development, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and identifying shared service delivery approaches. Specific allowable costs are not fully detailed in the forecast, but are typically aligned with planning and coordination activities rather than capital expenditures. Eligibility for this program is broad but geographically restricted. Applicants must be domestic entities located within the Northern Border Region and must serve HRSA-designated rural areas within the four eligible states. Eligible entities include nonprofit and for-profit organizations, faith-based and community-based organizations, tribal governments and organizations, state and local governments, institutions of higher education, and healthcare providers such as hospitals, Rural Health Clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and Rural Emergency Hospitals. Applicants must demonstrate experience or capacity to serve underserved rural populations, which is a key criterion for consideration. The application process is expected to be conducted electronically through Grants.gov, with submissions required by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the stated deadline. While this listing is currently a forecast, the estimated posting date is May 1, 2026, with an anticipated application due date of June 30, 2026. Applicants should be prepared to assemble standard federal grant application components, which typically include a project narrative, budget justification, and organizational information. Specific evaluation criteria are not detailed in the forecast but will likely focus on organizational capacity, network development strategy, and alignment with program goals. The anticipated award date is September 1, 2026, with project activities expected to begin on September 30, 2026. The program does not explicitly state whether it is recurring, but similar HRSA funding opportunities are often reissued annually or periodically. For additional information, applicants may contact Claire Darnell at HRSA via email or phone. As a forecasted opportunity, applicants are encouraged to monitor updates and prepare early to ensure readiness once the full notice of funding opportunity is released.