Public Health Training Centers (PHTC) Program

The Public Health Training Centers Program is administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. HRSA is a federal agency focused on improving access to health care services for people who are uninsured, isolated, or medically vulnerable. Through this program, HRSA supports workforce development initiatives designed to strengthen the nation’s public health infrastructure by enhancing training opportunities and expanding the capabilities of current and future public health professionals. The primary purpose of the Public Health Training Centers Program is to increase the knowledge, skills, and competencies of the public health workforce. This is accomplished through traineeships, specialized training programs, and continuing professional development activities. The program emphasizes collaboration with state and local health departments, community-based primary care providers, and a wide range of partner organizations, including non-traditional entities. These partnerships are intended to address emerging and ongoing public health needs across diverse communities and settings. Funding under this opportunity is provided through cooperative agreements, indicating substantial involvement from the federal agency in program implementation. Awardees are expected to deliver training programs that align with national public health priorities and workforce needs. Allowable activities include curriculum development, delivery of educational programs, workforce assessments, and partnerships that expand training reach. While the funding supports programmatic activities broadly tied to workforce development, recipients must adhere to federal grant requirements and HRSA guidance on allowable costs and program performance expectations. Eligible applicants include a wide range of organizational types, with a specific emphasis on accredited schools of public health and other accredited public or nonprofit private institutions capable of providing graduate-level or specialized public health training. This includes public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, tribal governments, school districts, and certain for-profit entities, provided they meet accreditation and programmatic criteria. The eligibility requirement highlights the importance of institutional capacity to deliver formalized public health training programs. The application process will be conducted electronically through federal submission systems, with applications due by June 22, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. The opportunity is currently in a forecasted stage, with an estimated posting date of May 22, 2026. Applicants will be required to prepare comprehensive submissions that typically include program narratives, partnership descriptions, training plans, and budget justifications, although specific components will be detailed in the official notice once released. Applications will be reviewed by the funding agency based on criteria that typically include program design, organizational capacity, partnerships, and anticipated impact on the public health workforce. The program anticipates making approximately 10 awards, with funding decisions expected by August 31, 2026, and project start dates beginning September 1, 2026. The performance period will be defined in the full announcement but is expected to support sustained workforce development activities. For additional information, applicants may contact Caroline Ayong at HRSA via phone or email. As a federal workforce development initiative, this program may be offered on a recurring basis, though recurrence is not explicitly stated in the forecast. Organizations interested in strengthening public health training infrastructure should monitor the official posting and prepare early to meet submission requirements and deadlines.