USDA will award $110 million in grants to improve rural healthcare systems

Editor's Note

On October 12, The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development announced in a press release that they will award $110 million in grants to improve healthcare facilities in rural areas.

This Emergency Rural Health Care Grants Program is made available through the Biden-Harris Administration’s American Rescue Plan Act. The grants will help more than 200 healthcare organizations in 43 states and Guam and will expand services to nearly 5 million individuals.

“Access to modern and sustainable health care infrastructure is critical to the health, well-being and prosperity for the millions of people who live in rural and Tribal communities,” USDA Rural Development Secretary notes. The USDA investments will help build, renovate and supply hospitals and clinics in rural areas.

The grants will award more than $9 million to 12 rural healthcare organizations in areas with high concentration of coal-dependent jobs. This funding is vital for supporting the nation’s energy production as the country transitions to a clean energy economy, the USDA notes.

The funds will be used to help healthcare facilities implement telehealth and nutrition programs, increase staffing for COVID-19 testing and vaccine administration, build and renovate facilities, and purchase medical equipment. Additionally, they will help regional partnerships, public bodies, nonprofits, and Tribes to address regional healthcare problems, building a more sustainable system in response to COVID-19.