The Michigan Center for Rural Health (MCRH) is accepting competitive Year 1 Rural Health Transformation Program applications for the Rural Data Integration and Infrastructure Fund. This is an applicant-facing grant competition for eligible Certified Rural Health Clinics in Michigan, not a commercial vendor procurement. Completed applications and supporting documents are due October 30, 2026, before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, by email to RHTP.MCRH@msu.edu.
Funding available to an applicant
Applicants may request up to $300,000 per application. A health system may apply for several eligible clinics together, but the $300,000 maximum covers the entire combined application; it is not a separate $300,000 per participating clinic. There is no required matching contribution. Awards are competitive, subject to Michigan Department of Health and Human Services approval, and reimbursed only for documented, approved expenses. The subgrant period begins after execution of an agreement and ends September 30, 2027; approved funds must be expended by that date.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants are Certified Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) in Michigan counties classified as fully or partially rural; clinics in fully rural counties receive priority. Each participating clinic must be identified by name, physical location, and CMS Certification Number (CCN). A clinic may submit one individual application or participate in one combined health-system application for this fund, but cannot appear in both. Clinics may pursue other distinct RHTP competitions if they segregate activities and costs and do not charge any expense twice.
Eligible project tracks
Data Integration Cohort: health information exchange and community information exchange onboarding, secure messaging, interoperability, referral infrastructure, social-needs referrals, and closed-loop connections with healthcare and community partners. Innovative Tools Cohort: billing and coding documentation tools, prior authorization improvements, revenue-cycle optimization, approved automation, and administrative technology pilots. Either cohort may include approved EHR onboarding or optimization, digital-literacy work, telehealth and remote-monitoring platform onboarding, implementation support, and workflow redesign. Applicants may select one or both cohorts, but should distinguish each cohort’s proposed activities and funding needs.
Allowable costs and important exclusions
Potentially allowable project costs include approved software and interfaces, HIE/CIE integration, staff training, directly attributable new or expanded implementation personnel, technical assistance, project evaluation, and necessary equipment or connectivity upgrades with appropriate prior approval. Cost items must be reasonable, necessary, documented, and included in an approved workplan and budget. The fund excludes pre-agreement spending, duplicate or already-reimbursed costs, replacement of existing operating support, unrelated routine expenditures, land and vehicle acquisition, new construction, major facility renovations, impermissible incentives, and lobbying or political activity. Equipment, consultant fees, indirect costs, and certain infrastructure expenditures may require additional review.
Application and submission requirements
Review the official application guide and eligibility/cost guidance, then download and complete the fillable application form. The form requests clinic and CCN details, cohort selection, current needs, proposed activities, partners, project-team readiness, anticipated results and sustainability, a funding request with a high-level budget, other RHTP funding disclosures, applicant commitments, and authorized official certification. A final detailed workplan and budget will be developed with MCRH if selected; they are not required at initial application. Save and reopen the completed fillable PDF to confirm the responses are preserved, then email it and all required supporting materials to RHTP.MCRH@msu.edu before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on October 30, 2026. Selection is based on eligibility, completeness, need, cohort alignment, implementation readiness, partnerships, sustainability, and budget.
Official source documents
Michigan Center for Rural Health RHTP application webpage includes the official Application Guide and FAQ, Rural Data Integration and Infrastructure Fund Application, and Eligible and Ineligible Uses of Funds Guide. Official documents reviewed on October 19, 2026. Applicants should verify any subsequent amendments directly with MCRH.