Rural Residency Planning and Development Program

The Rural Residency Planning and Development (RRPD) Program is a federally funded initiative administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, specifically through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Its mission centers on expanding access to quality healthcare in rural areas by establishing and supporting new, accredited rural residency programs. These programs aim to train medical residents in rural settings, thereby fostering a workforce that is more likely to remain in and serve underserved communities upon completing their training. This effort is part of a broader federal strategy to address long-standing disparities in healthcare access and outcomes for rural populations. Through this discretionary grant opportunity, HRSA will provide start-up funding to organizations intending to develop sustainable rural physician residency training programs. These programs must operate in HRSA-designated rural areas, and residents must conduct at least 50 percent of their training in such settings. Eligible medical specialties under this funding initiative include family medicine, internal medicine, preventive medicine, psychiatry, general surgery, and obstetrics and gynecology. The goal is to cultivate a workforce that is not only clinically skilled but also socially and culturally responsive to the unique challenges of rural healthcare delivery. Funding may be used for the development and accreditation process of new rural residency programs, including faculty recruitment, curriculum development, infrastructure building, and securing long-term financing from sustainable sources such as Medicare or Medicaid. However, this grant is intended solely for the planning and development phase, and applicants must demonstrate a clear path to financial self-sufficiency after the funding period concludes. The estimated total funding available for this round is $10.5 million, with up to 14 awards anticipated. Each award may not exceed $750,000. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. The anticipated posting date for the full application guidance is February 16, 2026, with applications due electronically by May 15, 2026, no later than 11:59 p.m. ET. Successful applicants are expected to be notified of their award by July 1, 2026, with project start dates slated for August 1, 2026. Although the current forecast does not confirm annual recurrence, the structured nature of the RRPD program and similar past offerings suggest a recurring pattern. Eligible applicants include a broad range of U.S.-based entities, such as public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, tribal organizations, local and state governments, and special districts. Both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits are eligible, and applicants must be based in the United States or its territories. Jason Steele is the designated point of contact for this opportunity and can be reached at ruralresidency@hrsa.gov or via phone at (301) 443-2203. This funding opportunity represents a strategic investment in addressing physician shortages and improving the rural health workforce pipeline. Organizations interested in applying should prepare to demonstrate their capacity to establish accredited residency programs that train physicians in rural clinical settings and outline a comprehensive plan for sustaining these programs beyond the initial funding period.