For More Information

Information on all USDA Rural Development 

programs is available online or from the office 

serving your area.

Assistance for 

Rural Healthcare 

From USDA Rural Development

PA-2185

January 2016

www.rd.usda.gov

1 (800) 670-6553 (toll free)

USDA is an equal opportunity 

provider, employer, and lender.

Business & Industry 

Loan Guarantees

This program provides financial backing for rural 

businesses, including healthcare operations. 

Funds can be used for several healthcare projects, 

including: business conversion or development; 

purchase and development of land; purchase of 

equipment, machinery, supplies, or inventory; or 

refinancing when new jobs are added. Eligible 

borrowers include businesses, nonprofits and 

cooperatives, Federally Recognized Tribes, public 

bodies, and individuals. Applicants work with 

private-sector lenders. USDA Rural Development 

provides a guarantee for the loan.

The borrower’s headquarters may be based within 

a larger city as long as the project is located in an 

eligible rural area. 

Rural Economic Development 

Loan & Grant Program

This program provides financing to eligible Rural 

Utilities Service electric or telecommunications 

borrowers to promote rural community 

healthcare projects. 

USDA Rural Development provides funds to local 

utilities, which are passed through to entities for 

projects that can support healthcare facilities and 

services in rural areas.
Does your community need 

more healthcare options? We 

offer financial assistance to 

improve rural healthcare facilities, 

equipment, and services. 

Assistance under these programs 

is available to applicants in areas 

designated as “rural.” Under law, 

the definition of “rural area” is 

different for each program.

Community Facilities 

Loans & Grants 

We offer flexible, inexpensive funding available to 

improve your rural community. We can help you build 

large projects like hospitals and clinics, and small ones 

like healthcare equipment, to make your community 

a better place to live. We provide direct loans and 

grants and work with private lenders to offer loan 

guarantees. Our guarantee makes it possible for the 

lender to provide a more affordable financing option.

Community Facilities assistance is available to public 

bodies, nonprofit organizations, and Federally 

Recognized Tribes to build, expand, or improve 

facilities and services for healthcare, education, public 

safety, and public services. 

We encourage you to contact your local USDA Rural 

Development office to discuss a potential project and 

to apply.

Community Facilities programs are available to assist 

areas with populations up to 20,000. 

Distance Learning & 

Telemedicine Grants

Applicants can purchase equipment to expand 

access to quality healthcare and education services 

in rural areas. Grants fund equipment and technical 

assistance to install and use technology that brings 

healthcare providers and patients together. For 

example, this program can link medical service 

providers and teachers in one area to patients and 

students in another. Most healthcare and education 

providers are eligible to apply, including State and 

local governments, Federally Recognized Tribes, 

nonprofits, and businesses.