Minnesota Rural Family Medicine Residency Grant — 2026 Cycle

Minnesota Department of Health will open the Rural Family Medicine Residency Grant letter-of-intent window September 1, with approximately $1 million available and up to $400,000 for each new residency position. The LOI is due September 30, 2026 at 4:30 PM CT and full applications are due October 30.

FundingApproximately $1 million total for up to three to four grantees; up to $400,000 for each new family medicine residency position, with remaining funds allocated proportionally for existing residents

DeadlineLetter of Intent opens September 1 and is due September 30, 2026 at 4:30 PM CT; full application due October 30, 2026 at 4:30 PM CT

Last verifiedAugust 29, 2026

Required next actionPrepare for the September 1 LOI opening by confirming the family medicine residency is outside Minnesota's seven-county metropolitan area, documents a rural training focus, meets the three-year rural graduate placement threshold, and has current ACGME accreditation or candidacy. Define any new residency positions, preserve the required baseline resident count, and submit the LOI through the ORHPC Grants Portal by 4:30 PM CT on September 30.

Broad Eligibility

Eligible applicants are Minnesota family medicine residency programs located outside the seven-county metropolitan area that focus on training physicians to serve rural communities, can show at least 25 percent of graduates from the prior three years currently practice in Minnesota communities outside the metro area, and have current ACGME accreditation or candidacy. Applicants must maintain their baseline resident count in addition to any new grant-funded residents.

Atlas Analysis

One of Minnesota's strongest rural physician-pipeline opportunities because the program explicitly rewards residency programs with demonstrated rural placement results and prioritizes newly created family medicine positions. The up-to-$400,000 support per new position is material, while the LOI requirement creates an important early control point Atlas can surface well before the full October application deadline.

Source verificationOfficial government source · www.health.mn.govAtlas last verified this record August 29, 2026. Always use the funder's current application materials, amendments and portal instructions as the controlling source.View source and application materials ↗