The Rural Residency Planning and Development Technical Assistance (RRPD-TA) Program is a funding opportunity provided by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) through its Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. The purpose of this initiative is to offer technical assistance (TA) to organizations seeking to establish and sustain new rural residency programs, particularly those that aim to increase the rural physician workforce. This program addresses physician shortages and ensures that rural communities have better access to healthcare by supporting the development of accredited residency programs that train physicians in rural settings.

The program funds a single cooperative agreement of up to $1,250,000 per year for a five-year period from September 30, 2025, to September 29, 2030, contingent upon continued funding appropriations. The selected recipient will be responsible for providing technical assistance to entities working to establish or expand rural residency programs. This includes guidance on accreditation, faculty recruitment, financial sustainability, and program administration. The program supports residency training in multiple medical specialties, including family medicine, internal medicine, psychiatry, obstetrics and gynecology, general surgery, and preventive medicine.

Eligible applicants for this funding opportunity include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, state and local government entities, independent school districts, and Native American tribal organizations. However, organizations that currently hold active RRPD grants (HRSA-20-107, HRSA-22-094, HRSA-23-037, or HRSA-24-022) are not eligible to apply. The recipient of this cooperative agreement must be capable of providing national-level technical assistance beyond a local or regional scope.

The application process requires organizations to submit a comprehensive proposal detailing their capacity to deliver TA, a high-level work plan, and strategies to address challenges in rural residency development. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by March 18, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. The expected award notification is scheduled for August 31, 2025, with the project start date on September 30, 2025. No cost-sharing or matching funds are required for this program.

Applicants will be evaluated based on need, proposed approach, ability to measure program impact, organizational capacity, and budget justification. HRSA will review applications for completeness, alignment with program goals, and feasibility before making a final funding decision. The selected organization will be expected to develop resources such as training materials, a technical assistance portal, and policy analyses to support the sustainability of rural residency programs.

For questions regarding the program, applicants can contact Jason Steele, Public Health Analyst at the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, via email at ruralresidency@hrsa.gov or phone at 301-443-2203. For financial or budget-related inquiries, applicants can reach out to Eric Brown, Grants Management Specialist, at the same email address or by phone at 301-945-9844.