Rural Northern Border Region Planning Program

We fund this program to help health care organizations plan and identify rural health issues in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. These are the areas the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) serves.

What’s the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC)?

The NBRC is a federal-state partnership for economic and community development.

What do our grantees do?

Grantees focus on health care development activities within rural communities located in the four-state NBRC region. They conduct community needs assessments. They build relationships with stakeholders and community members.

Who could apply?

Applicants who were eligible for the FY 2026 awards:

  • Domestic public or private, non-profit, or for-profit entities. They must have experience serving, or the capacity to serve, rural underserved populations.
  • Located in the Northern Border Region and serving qualifying HRSA-designated rural areas within the four Northern Border Regional Commission member States.
  • Represented a group of participants that included at least three or more health care provider organizations.
  • Not previously awarded under this subsection for the same or similar project. Previously awarded entities may apply to expand the scope of the project or the area that will be served through the project.

Find full eligibility requirements in our Notice of Funding Opportunity.

Who received FY 2026 awards?

In fiscal year 2026, we awarded over $1.6 million. 

OrganizationCityStateAmount
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NETWORK OF VERMONT, INC.MontpelierVT$119,705
WESTERN NEW YORK RURAL AREA HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER, INC.WarsawNY$119,705
NORTH EAST KINGDOM COMMUNITY ACTION, INC.NewportVT$119,705
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS OF THE RUTLAND REGION, INC.RutlandVT$119,705
GREEN MOUNTAIN BIRTH CENTER INC.JohnsonVT$119,705
THE HARRY E. DAVIS PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN'S ORAL HEALTHNew GloucesterME$119,705
MAINEHEALTHPortlandME$119,705
UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTERRochesterNY$119,705
THE WOMEN OF THE MOUNTAINS BIRTH INITIATIVE (WOMB INITIATIVE)LittletonNH$119,705
NORTHEASTERN VERMONT REGIONAL HOSPITAL, INC.Saint JohnsburyVT$119,705
UNITED WAY, INC.PortlandME$119,705
LAMOILLE COMMUNITY HOUSE, INC.Hyde ParkVT$119,705
WAYNE COUNTY ACTION PROGRAM, INC.LyonsNY$119,705
FAMILIES FLOURISH NORTHEAST, INC.LebanonNH$119,705

Contact us

Claire Darnell 
Public Health Analyst
Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
Email: cdarnell@hrsa.gov
Phone: 301-443-3868

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