Delta Health Care Service Grant Program

The Delta Health Care Services Grant Program is administered by the Rural Business-Cooperative Service within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The program is authorized under Section 379G of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act and is designed to address persistent and unmet health care needs across the Delta Region, which includes designated counties and parishes in multiple states. The agency operates this program as part of its broader mission to strengthen rural communities through economic and cooperative development, with a particular emphasis on improving access to essential services and advancing regional collaboration. The primary purpose of the program is to provide financial assistance to support collaborative, multi-entity approaches to improving health outcomes in the Delta Region. Projects must involve cooperation among health care providers, institutions of higher education, research organizations, and economic development entities. The program prioritizes initiatives that expand health care services, develop health education and job training programs, and enhance public health-related facilities. A portion of the funding is specifically reserved for projects serving persistent poverty counties, reinforcing the program’s focus on addressing long-standing economic and health disparities. Funding under this opportunity totals approximately $6,000,000 for the fiscal year, with individual awards ranging from $50,000 to $1,000,000. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, although applicants may include additional contributions if properly documented. Grant funds may be used for eligible activities such as developing health care services, training programs, and infrastructure improvements, but cannot be used for ineligible costs such as political activities, pre-award expenses, or duplicative services. Awards are made competitively, and applicants are responsible for ensuring that proposed costs align with program guidelines. Eligibility is limited to consortiums composed of at least three entities, including regional institutions of higher education, academic health and research institutes, and/or economic development organizations located within the Delta Region. The consortium must demonstrate at least one year of experience addressing regional health care needs. One member must serve as the lead entity with legal authority to contract with the federal government and manage the award. Applicants must also meet federal eligibility requirements, including maintaining active registration in SAM.gov and not being subject to debarment or other disqualifying conditions. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov and must include a comprehensive set of required documents. These include standard federal forms such as SF-424 and SF-424A, an executive summary, evidence of eligibility, formal consortium agreements, a detailed work plan and budget, performance measures, financial statements, and supporting documentation such as maps and environmental information. Applications are evaluated based on criteria including community need, organizational capacity, work plan quality, and evidence of local support, with a total possible score of 100 points. The application window opens on April 1, 2026, and closes on June 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Late or incomplete applications are not accepted. Awards are anticipated to be announced by August 31, 2026, with project periods of up to 24 months beginning no earlier than September 1, 2026. The program is offered on an annual basis, and applicants are encouraged to begin preparation early due to the complexity of the submission requirements. For additional information, applicants may contact USDA Rural Development State Offices or the program contact, Ann Stahl, Business Loan and Grant Analyst, via email or phone.

Ensure strong demonstration of community health needs and measurable outcomes; provide detailed work plan with clear timelines and roles; include strong consortium partnerships with defined responsibilities; align project with Delta Region priorities and persistent poverty focus