Funding opportunity
The Foundation for Healthy Communities (FHC), administering New Hampshire GO-NORTH Rural Health Transformation Program funds, is offering competitive grant subawards for Critical Access Hospitals, acute care hospitals, qualifying specialty hospitals, and eligible partner organizations addressing rural New Hampshire hospital care. The controlling October 2026 RFA anticipates approximately $17,500,000 across this competition. It does not establish a fixed applicant-level minimum or maximum award; individual funding depends on project merit, demonstrated rural impact, scope, feasibility, and budget.
Application dates and status
The application portal is scheduled to open in late October 2026 and is not independently confirmed open as of October 9, 2026. The initial priority-cohort deadline is November 12, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. Rolling applications may be reviewed afterward, subject to available funding; late applications are not guaranteed review.
Eligibility
Eligible lead applicants include New Hampshire Critical Access Hospitals; New Hampshire-licensed hospitals in rural locations; New Hampshire-licensed nonrural hospitals proposing projects predominantly benefiting rural New Hampshire patients; and organizations partnering with eligible hospital applicants. Out-of-state partners may qualify with documented direct rural New Hampshire benefits. One eligible organization must be designated lead applicant and fiscal agent. Freestanding emergency departments are ineligible. Each proposal must demonstrate rural service impact. Project Development stage has no application-count limit, but each eligible applicant may lead only one Preparatory Investment or Program Ready application.
Supported activities and restrictions
The RFA’s focus areas are improved access to specialty and acute care, technology modernization and interoperability, and financial sustainability. Allowable costs may include appropriate personnel, clinical startup supplies, equipment, health information technology, quality improvement, education, and partnership activities. Equipment meeting federal capitalization thresholds requires FHC’s prior written approval and inclusion in the approved budget. Combined indirect and administrative costs may not exceed 10% of requested funding. Research projects, lobbying, unauthorized capital costs, duplicative billable services, and certain direct employee cash benefits are excluded. The RFA does not specify a universal mandatory matching percentage.
How to apply
Applicants must submit a proposal through the FHC online application portal when it opens, including project impact, implementation milestones, rural community benefits, partnerships, measurable outcomes, sustainability, and budget alignment. Required attachments include a workplan/timeline, project budget, and letters of support or memoranda of understanding. Applicants should read the controlling RFA and current amendments before submitting. Award agreements may require audited or equivalent financial information, an executed authority certificate, insurance documentation, and a Unique Entity Identifier.
Official controlling RFA: FHC Critical Access Hospital and Acute Care Hospital RFA. Current program and portal status: Foundation for Healthy Communities GO-NORTH funding page. Research last verified October 9, 2026.