Implementation Grants (Tennessee Rural Health Care Center of Excellence) is sponsored by University of Tennessee Health Science Center - Tennessee Rural Health Care Center of Excellence. These grants fund the execution of well-developed projects that directly improve access, quality, or sustainability of health care services in rural Tennessee. They are intended for initiatives ready to move from planning to action.

Grants & Opportunities – Rural Health Second Round of Requests for Proposals (RFP) to come in late 2026 Issued by: Tennessee Rural Health Care Center of Excellence at UT Health Science Center Subject: Planning and Implementation Grants to Strengthen Rural Health Care in Tennessee The Tennessee Rural Health Care Center of Excellence is pleased to announce the availability of funding through two distinct grant opportunities aimed at strengthening rural health care across Tennessee.

These grants— Planning Grants and Implementation Grants —are designed to support innovative approaches that address the unique challenges faced by rural communities in accessing high-quality health care. Eligible applicants are invited to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) as the first step in the application process. Based on the review of LOIs, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal.

Purpose: To support the development of actionable plans for addressing specific rural health care challenges. These grants are ideal for organizations or partnerships seeking to assess needs, build capacity, and design evidence-based solutions tailored to their rural communities.

Funding Amount: Up to $100,000 per award Stipulations: Up to 10% of the total awarded amount can be used towards indirect costs Purpose: To fund the execution of well-developed projects that directly improve access, quality, or sustainability of health care services in rural Tennessee. These grants are intended for initiatives ready to move from planning to action.

Funding Amount: Up to $500,000 per award Duration: Up to 36 months Stipulations: Up to 10% of the total awarded amount can be used towards indirect costs. Eligible applicants include: Non-profit organizations, health care institutions (non-profit and for-profit), academic institutions, and community-based organizations serving rural areas in Tennessee.

Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to addressing health care gaps and engaging local stakeholders in their proposed projects.

Deadline : November 14, 2025 The LOI should provide a brief overview of the proposed project, including: Organization name, primary contact name and title, email address, phone number, mailing address Project title and type of grant (Planning or Implementation) Brief biosketch for the Program Director (PD)/ Principal Investigator (PI) and all key personnel (see example below) If a nonacademic institution, identify what grant writing support might be needed for application submission And max 500 words total for following sections: Outline and evidence of the rural health care challenge being addressed Evidenced-based description of how proposal addresses the problem Key objectives, anticipated outcomes, and challenges Proposed partners (if applicable) Full Application (By Invitation Only) Based on the review of LOIs, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal with detailed project plans, budgets, dissemination plan (sharing of results with state partners, broader scientific community and the lay community), and timelines.

Additional guidance will be provided upon invitation. An invitation to submit a full application does not guarantee funding Rural/Rural Serving – Institution must be located in a rural area OR located in a rural-adjacent community that serves rural communities (weight: Qualifying/Disqualifying). Community Need – The institution clearly articulates a health care need within the rural community (weight: 35%).

Evidence of Need – The institution has either qualitative or quantitative evidence that supports their articulated need (weight: 25%). Response to Need – The institution has a clearly articulated response to the need, built on evidence, and is reasonable for the scope and size of the organization (weight: 30%).

Community Partnerships – The institution has engaged with other organizations in the community that will help address the need (weight: 10%). FAQs and Submission Instructions FAQ Webinar : Recorded on October 27, 2025 FAQs for Full Proposal Submission Access InfoReady online portal here .

If you are applying from an organization outside of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, please email Jamie Sowell to obtain access to the InfoReady portal. LOIs must be submitted electronically via InfoReady online portal. Please use the subject line: [Planning/Implementation Grant LOI – Organization Name] .

Those selected for a full submission will receive a detailed RFP We look forward to receiving your innovative ideas and working together to advance rural health care in Tennessee! Thank you for your commitment to improving health outcomes in our communities. Tennessee Rural Health Care 874 Union Avenue, Suite G022