| Read this in your browser. January 29, 2026 What's New HRSA Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program – March 12. Nurses employed full-time in critical shortage facilities or teaching as nurse faculty at an accredited school of nursing may be eligible to pay off up to 60 percent of nursing education debt with two years of Nurse Corps service. You may be able to reduce debt by an additional 25 percent with a third year of service. Other Funding and Opportunities U.S. Department of Labor YouthBuild – March 2. The Employment and Training Administration at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) expects to make 57 awards, each up to $2 million, for community-level programs that offer construction training and hands-on experience to youth aged 16-24 years. Eligible applicants include state, local, and Tribal governments, school districts, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations. Get more information, fact sheets, and technical assistance at DOL's website. Rural Health Research Research in this section is located on the HRSA/FORHP-supported Rural Health Research Gateway. Sign up to receive alerts when new publications become available. Use of Preventive Services by Rurality, Disability Status, and Health Insurance. This policy brief from the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center examines rates of utilizing two types of preventive care (routine physicals and flu vaccination) by rural-urban location, disability status, and health insurance type. Policy Updates Send questions to ruralpolicy@hrsa.gov. Webinar: CMS LEAD (Long-term Enhancing ACO Design) Model Overview – Thursday, January 29 at 2:00 pm Eastern. During this hour-long webinar, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will cover LEAD Model goals, participation options, eligibility, payment methodology, and the application process. Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) are groups of doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers that voluntarily work together to coordinate care, improve quality, and reduce unnecessary costs for patients. LEAD builds on the CMS Innovation Center's accountable care work to appeal to a broad mix of health care providers, including those with specialized patient populations and those new to ACOs, such as smaller, independent, or rural-based practices. It includes improved benchmarking, a 10-year performance period, and a focus on coordinated care for high-needs populations. Sign up to receive email updates about the LEAD Model to get notified about announcements, events, and resources, and contact the LEAD Help Desk at LEAD@cms.hhs.gov with questions. Approaching Deadlines Deadline Extended: Appalachian Region Healthcare Support – Cohort 2 – Apply Through January 30 GAO Seeks Nominations for Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) – Submit by February 6 CDC Drug-Free Communities Support Program – February 12 National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Grants for Arts Projects – February 12 Denali Commission Rural Transportation Match and Gap Funding Assistance Program – February 13 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Supportive Services for Veteran Families – February 19 CMS Proposes Changes to Health Plan Price Transparency – Comment by February 23 Proposed Rule for HTI-5 Seeks to Reduce Criteria for Health IT – Comment by February 27 NIH Network of the National Library of Medicine Consumer Health Information Specialization Training Award – March 2 U.S. Department of Labor YouthBuild – March 2 HRSA Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program – March 12 Institute of Museum and Library Sciences – Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program – March 13 Now Available: Medicare Survey on Hospital Outpatient Drug Costs – Submit by March 31 USDA Rural Development: Economic Development Loan & Grants Programs – March 31 USDA Rural Development: Intermediary Relending Program – March 31 Forecasted Opportunities HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP)-Impact – Estimated Post Date February 23 HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) - Planning – Estimated Post Date February 25 HRSA Rural Residency Planning and Development (RRPD) Program – Estimated Post Date March 15 Ongoing Opportunities - Updated January 2026 Bold indicates HRSA- and/or FORHP-funded opportunities. Administration for Children & Families: Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency – Rural Emergency Medical Communications Demonstration Project Delta Regional Authority: Community Infrastructure Fund Delta Region Community Health Systems Development Program General Services Administration: Federal Surplus Property Available for Public Use HRSA Needs Rural Reviewers for Grant Applications HRSA National Health Service Corps Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Training HRSA Look-Alike Initial Designation for the Health Center Program Indian Health Service/Department of Defense: Medical Supplies and Equipment for Tribes (Project TRANSAM) Licensure Portability: The Multi-Discipline Licensure Resource Project National Rural Health Resource Center: Rural Hospital Stabilization Program ProviderBridge: Mobilizing Health Care Workforce via Telehealth Rural Graduate Medical Education Planning and Development Small Business Administration Guaranteed Loans for Small Business Small Business Administration Rural Initiative Pilot Program Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration/Federal Emergency Management Agency/: Post-Disaster Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program Targeted Technical Assistance for Rural Hospitals Program USDA: National School Lunch Afterschool Snack Program USDA: Summer Food Service Program USDA/National Rural Health Association: Rural Hospital Technical Assistance USDA Rural Development: America's Healthy Food Financing Initiative USDA Rural Development: Circuit Rider Program – Technical Assistance for Rural Water Systems USDA Rural Development: Community Facilities Programs USDA Rural Development: Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants USDA Rural Development: Grants for Rural and Native Alaskan Villages USDA Rural Development: Intermediary Relending Program – Ongoing with deadlines every quarter USDA Rural Development: Multifamily Housing Loan Guarantees USDA Rural Development: Rural Business Investment Program USDA Rural Development: Rural Energy Savings Program USDA Rural Development: SEARCH – Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households (for Water/Waste Projects) USDA Rural Development: Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans and Loan Guarantees U.S. Department of Transportation: Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (R.O.U.T.E.S) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Drinking Water State Revolving Fund U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Physical Therapy Telehealth Research Study for Older Veterans – Ongoing until October 2026 | 
