Health Center Program

The Health Center Program grant opportunity, administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Health Resources and Services Administration, is a federal discretionary funding initiative designed to support community-based health centers. HRSA serves as a primary federal agency responsible for improving access to health care services for vulnerable and underserved populations across the United States. This specific opportunity is presented as a forecasted funding notice and is tied to the broader Community Health Centers program under Assistance Listing 93.224. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to provide financial support to health centers located in areas affected by Hurricane Helene that have been declared disaster zones by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The program is intended to ensure continuity of access to comprehensive primary care services during and after the disaster. Rather than offering new standalone awards, this opportunity allows eligible health centers to request an advance on their anticipated fiscal year Health Center Program continuation funding. This mechanism is intended to address urgent operational needs resulting from unforeseen circumstances caused by the disaster. Funding provided through this opportunity is limited to an advance of up to 25 percent of a health center’s expected fiscal year continuation award amount. These funds are intended to cover in-scope activities and allowable costs that support the continued delivery of primary care services. It is important to note that any funds advanced under this opportunity will be deducted from the final awarded amount for the fiscal year, meaning this is not supplemental funding but rather an early disbursement of expected funds. No cost sharing or matching requirement is associated with this opportunity. Eligibility for this program is restricted to health centers operating within FEMA-declared disaster areas associated with Hurricane Helene. Applicants must meet the criteria outlined in the referenced disaster declaration and be eligible participants in the Health Center Program. The opportunity specifies that additional eligibility details are available through FEMA’s disaster listings, indicating that geographic and operational eligibility are tightly defined and contingent upon federal disaster designation. The application process is expected to be conducted through HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks system, which serves as the standard submission portal for HRSA funding opportunities. While specific application components, deadlines, and evaluation criteria are not provided in this forecast notice, applicants should anticipate submitting documentation that justifies the need for advanced funding and demonstrates how the funds will be used to maintain service continuity. Contact for this opportunity is provided through a named HRSA representative, offering a point of communication for technical assistance or clarification. As a forecasted opportunity, key timeline elements such as application open date, due date, award date, and project start date have not yet been finalized. The forecast was published on October 21, indicating anticipated release planning within the fiscal year. There is no indication of recurring funding cycles for this specific disaster-related mechanism, as it appears to be tied to a singular emergency event. Applicants should monitor HRSA communications for updates and prepare to respond promptly once the opportunity is formally released.