Delta Health Care Service Grant Program
🏛 Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Can you apply?
This grant is for rural organizations and enterprises that improve healthcare access in Delta regions. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, rural hospitals, federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), and rural health clinics. Projects must serve medically underserved areas in the Mississippi Delta region or comparable economically disadvantaged rural areas. Activities include establishing new healthcare services, expanding existing services, and building infrastructure to support healthcare delivery in rural communities.
Program description
The Rural Business-Cooperative Service announces the availability of $6,000,000 in competitive grant funds for the FY 2026 Delta Health Care Services Grant (DHCS) Program as authorized under Section 379G of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008u), as amended by the Agricultural Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115-334). The purpose of this program is to provide financial assistance to address the continued unmet health needs in the Delta Region, through cooperation among health care professionals, institutions of higher education, research institutions and economic development entities in the Delta Region.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- SF-424 Supplement (for nonprofits)
- Project Narrative
- Budget Narrative
- Letters of Support from community partners
- Documentation of healthcare need in service area
- Organizational capacity documentation
- Proof of nonprofit or eligible entity status
Program contact
- 👤 Honie Turner Grants Management Specialist
- 📧 Ann.Stahl@usda.gov
- 📞 2024010088
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 10.874 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$1,000,000
-
$1,000,000
-
$700,000
-
$631,150
-
$-102,850
Top States by Funding
- AR 2 awards $1.3M
- KY 1 awards $1.0M
- MS 1 awards $1.0M
- TN 1 awards $-0.1M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 10.874). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $2,700,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $3,000,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Nonprofits, rural hospitals, FQHCs, rural health clinics, and rural enterprises can apply. Tribal organizations serving eligible rural areas are also eligible.
What geographic areas are eligible?
The Mississippi Delta region and comparable economically disadvantaged rural areas qualify. You must serve a medically underserved population.
What activities does this grant support?
It funds establishing new healthcare services, expanding existing services, and building healthcare infrastructure. Training and workforce development activities are also supported.
When is the application deadline?
The deadline is June 1, 2026. Applications open April 1, 2026, giving applicants two months to prepare.
How competitive is this grant?
This is moderately competitive. Strong applications focus on serving underserved rural populations and show clear community need and sustainability plans.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Focus on serving medically underserved populations in eligible Delta or rural regions. Provide clear demographic and health data to demonstrate need.
- Connect your project to local healthcare gaps. Show how you identified the specific services your community lacks.
- Build partnerships with local hospitals, clinics, and health departments. Strong partnerships improve competitiveness significantly.
- Develop a clear sustainability plan beyond the grant period. Reviewers want to know how you'll maintain the service long-term.
- Include meaningful community engagement in project planning. Show that the community led or shaped your proposal.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications fail when they lack clear evidence of healthcare need in the target area. Vague sustainability plans or unclear service delivery models weaken proposals significantly. Weak partnerships and limited community input also reduce competitiveness.
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