USDA and Rural Health Care

Americans have faced unprecedented health care challenges over the past few years. 

It’s been especially difficult for people living in rural communities and on Tribal lands, 

where many lack access to reliable, modern health care. USDA is committed to 

ensuring the success of rural hospitals and health care facilities. Among other things, 

we offer funding that supports bricks-and-mortar construction, offsets the cost of 

necessary equipment and first responder vehicles, and promotes technology that brings 

world-class care to rural places. To learn more, contact the USDA Rural Development 

state office closest to you. You’ll find a list at this link: https://go.usa.gov/xtpEe. 

USDA Rural Development Resources

Business and Industry Guaranteed Loans

The commitment and resources USDA Rural Development brings to rural people and 

places help drive economic security and prosperity and build brighter futures in rural 

America. Our Business and Industry Loan Guarantees provide financial backing to start 

or expand eligible rural businesses – including hospitals and other health care-related 

enterprises. You can learn more about the Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan 

Program at this link: https://go.usa.gov/xtpv8. 

Community Facilities Loans, Loan Guarantees, and Grants

We understand a strong community is rooted in its people. Our CF programs offer 

flexible, affordable funding to build public projects such as health care clinics and first 

responder facilities. CF funding can also help offset the cost of associated equipment 

such as office furniture or first responder vehicles. Most CF funding is available to 

eligible state and local governments, nonprofit organizations, and federally recognized 

Tribes in areas with populations up to 20,000. Loan guarantees through private lenders 

support eligible communities with populations up to 50,000. You can learn more about 

our Community Facilities programs at this link: https://go.usa.gov/xtAek.

Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants 

These grants help eligible applicants acquire the technology, infrastructure, and training 

needed to connect educational and health care professionals with students, teachers, 

and patients in rural areas. DLT grants help level the playing field for rural students, 

allowing them to take virtual classes, or search and interview for jobs without leaving 

their hometowns. You can learn more about the DLT grant at this link: 

https://tinyurl.com/2durmh9f. 
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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants 

Along with a vast network of partners, we support entrepreneurs and their employees by 

investing in small business expansion, leading to greater rural employment 

opportunities. The REDLG program offers zero-interest financing to eligible USDA 

electric or telecommunications borrowers, who then make pass-through funds available 

to recipients for use in projects that create and keep jobs in rural areas. Grants establish 

revolving loan funds to help improve employment prospects. You’ll find more 

information about the REDLG program at this link: https://go.usa.gov/xtGM9. 

Other USDA and Federal Family Resources

Rural Health and Safety Education Grant Program

Administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Rural Health and 

Safety Education (RHSE) grants support community-based outreach education 

programs such as those offered through Human Sciences Extension and Outreach.

Topics include such things as rural environmental health, health promotion training for 

health services providers and volunteers, and information designed to motivate people

to take responsibility for – and improve – their own health. You can learn more about 

RHSE grants at this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p8saryy.

Rural Partners Network

Through the Rural Partners Network (RPN), rural people and communities benefit from 

collaborative partnerships among an association of federal agencies, staff, and 

programs. USDA Rural Development leads the RPN in collaboration with 20 federal 

agencies and regional commissions through the Rural Prosperity Interagency Policy 

Council, co-led by the White House Domestic Policy Council and USDA. You can learn 

more about RPN at this link: https://www.rural.gov/. 

Contacts

For more information about how USDA can help support rural health care in your 

community, contact the USDA Rural Health Liaison at this email address:

Rural.health@usda.gov. 

To stay up-to-date on rural health care issues, you can subscribe to USDA Rural 

Development’s Rural Health Updates at this link: https://tinyurl.com/yj36vxxr.