The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is offering the Rural Hospital Planning & Transition Grant Program for fiscal year 2025. This grant supports small rural hospitals in Minnesota, helping them develop strategic plans or implement service transition projects to ensure continued access to essential health services. Eligible applicants are non-federal, nonprofit general acute care hospitals located in rural Minnesota (outside the seven-county metropolitan area) and in communities with fewer than 15,000 residents. Hospitals must have no more than 50 beds, and collaborations with local health providers and community organizations are encouraged.

Grant awards range from $25,000 to $45,000, with an estimated total of $300,000 allocated across approximately 10 awards. Hospitals must match at least 50% of the grant amount with non-state funds. Funds are available only for strategic planning and transition projects, such as establishing telehealth systems or redesignating as a critical access hospital. Strategic planning must include needs assessments, feasibility studies, and implementation plans, while transition projects should address identified community health needs. Ineligible costs include community needs assessments, prior debts, and indirect expenses.

Applications must be submitted by December 20, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. CST. Applicants must submit their proposals through the MDH online portal, with a required 30-day review by the local Community Health Board (CHB). MDH will notify applicants of funding decisions by early March 2025.

Applications will be evaluated on a 100-point scale across four sections: organizational background, project narrative, community support, and budget narrative. Points will be awarded based on project relevance, alignment with health equity goals, collaboration with community partners, and financial readiness. The MDH may request additional information for clarification or compliance, but it is crucial for applicants to submit complete applications to ensure fair evaluation.

A pre-application webinar will be held on November 18, 2024, to answer questions, and applicants can direct further inquiries to MDH by email until December 13, 2024. Applicants are encouraged to review the full proposal guidance to ensure all eligibility and application requirements are met.