On July 2, 2008, HRSA published the announcement for the Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant Program (HRSA-09-004). The grant program helps rural entities plan, organize, and develop a healthcare network. The support from the program helps health care networks become operational and be able to develop the right strategies for becoming sustainable.
Successful applicants can use the one year planning grants to conduct planning activities, identify critical needs, identify factors and develop a plan to leading to sustainability, develop a strategic plan identify potential collaborating network partners, and begin to carry out network activities.
Grantees of this program will be eligible to apply for the Rural Health Care Services Outreach Grant Program for FY 09 funding and for the Rural Health Network Development Grant Program that will have a new start funding cycle in FY 2011.
Eligible applicants must be rural, non-profit or public entities that represent a consortium of three or more health related entities. Applications from profit making organizations will not be accepted. For profit organizations may participate in the network and must include three or more healthcare providers. Faith based, community based organizations, tribal governments and tribal organizations are also eligible to apply.
The Network Planning Grant funding cycle is from March 1, 2009 through February 28, 2010 and will be funded from the FY 2009 appropriations, pending availability of funds. The amount of funding is anticipated at $1,150,000 with 20 awards. Individual awards are limited to $25,000 and $85,000.
For more information, go to www.grants.gov.
