The Rural Residency Planning and Development (RRPD) Program, administered by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) within the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), is designed to improve healthcare access in rural areas by funding the development of sustainable rural residency programs, including rural track programs (RTPs). The program provides startup funding to create rural residency programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). These residency programs are expected to be sustained long-term through stable funding sources such as Medicare, Medicaid, and other public or private funding mechanisms. The ultimate goal is to address physician shortages in rural communities by increasing the number of physicians trained and retained in these areas.

The funding opportunity number for this program is HRSA-25-007, and it has an application deadline of April 10, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Awards are expected to be announced by July 1, 2025, with projects commencing on August 1, 2025. HRSA anticipates funding up to 15 grants for this cycle, with a total funding allocation of $11,250,000. Each grant award is capped at $750,000 for the entire three-year period of performance from August 1, 2025, to July 31, 2028.

Eligible applicants include public or private institutions of higher education (as part of a graduate medical education (GME) consortium), rural hospitals, rural community-based ambulatory patient care centers, and Native American tribal governments or organizations. The program specifically supports new residency programs in the following medical specialties: family medicine, internal medicine, preventive medicine, psychiatry, general surgery, and obstetrics-gynecology. To qualify, programs must be accredited by ACGME and must ensure that more than 50% of resident training occurs at rural clinical sites.

Applicants must demonstrate their ability to develop a residency program, ensure financial sustainability, and track graduate career outcomes for at least five years post-residency. The application must include a detailed sustainability plan, with viable long-term funding strategies. Acceptable funding mechanisms include Medicare Indirect Medical Education (IME) or Direct Graduate Medical Education (DGME) payments, Medicaid GME, state, public, or private funding sources.

Applications will be reviewed based on five criteria:

Need (15 points) – The extent to which the application identifies physician shortages and the need for a rural residency program.
Response (30 points) – The strength of the program's proposed approach, work plan, and resolution of challenges.
Impact (35 points) – The potential for sustainability and measurable outcomes.
Resources and Capabilities (15 points) – The applicant’s ability to implement the project effectively.
Support Requested (5 points) – The feasibility and appropriateness of the proposed budget.
The program does not require cost-sharing or matching funds, though applicants may choose to contribute additional funds voluntarily. Additionally, applicants can apply for funding priority points if they propose a program in designated underserved states or territories or if their program focuses on maternal health and obstetrics training.

For inquiries, the primary HRSA contact is Jason Steele, Public Health Analyst, available at ruralresidency@hrsa.gov or 301-443-2203. For financial and budgetary questions, Beverly Smith at the Division of Grants Management Operations, OFAM can be reached at ruralresidency@hrsa.gov or 301-443-7065. More details on the funding opportunity, application process, and submission requirements can be found at Grants.gov (Opportunity Number HRSA-25-007).