# North Carolina Rural Health Innovation Fund

North Carolina's Rural Health Innovation Fund is a competitive $20 million-per-year investment for up to five years within the state's Rural Health Transformation Program. In its first year, the Fund helps rural primary care providers, federally qualified health centers, community health centers, and safety-net providers test and scale digital solutions that improve access, care delivery, and operations. Eligible projects include telehealth expansion, AI-enabled clinical decision support, electronic health record upgrades, cybersecurity enhancements, and other scalable digital-health infrastructure. The Fund is reimbursement-based and supports projects that are sustainable and enhance quality of care for rural communities.

## Key facts

- Status: Closing soon
- Type: GRANT
- Issued by: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) – Office of Rural Health (North Carolina)
- Posted: 2026-09-30
- Application due: 2026-11-17
- Funding: $20.0M
- Eligible applicants: Healthcare Provider, Nonprofit, Local Government
- How to apply: Complete the online readiness intake at https://ncsu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_80qBAYwAxIrmMSi, then submit the full application through the NC Rural Health Innovation Fund grant process via the NCDIT grant portal.
- Funding source: Rural Health Transformation Program (CMS)
- Official source: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/news/press-releases/2026/09/30/governor-stein-launches-20-million-fund-increase-access-care-rural-north-carolina

## Eligibility

In its first year, the Rural Health Innovation Fund is open to primary care providers, federally qualified health centers, community health centers, and safety-net providers that meet applicable federal health center requirements. Applicants must demonstrate how they serve rural residents, including in counties not designated as rural.

## Requirements

Applicants must complete a readiness intake, gather project quotes, and submit a full application through the NC Rural Health Innovation Fund grant process by 11:59 p.m. on November 16, 2026. Funding will be distributed on a reimbursement basis. All funded projects must be completed by July 30, 2027.

## Application package and source documents

- [NC - 2025 - Grant Opportunities Open Grant Opportunities](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/1b475f3f-6e04-4f24-b5d1-fa576b662d8a/file) — official: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/office-rural-health/rural-health-transformation-program
- [NC - 2026 - El Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte y el Departamento de Informática de Carolina del Norte anunciaron hoy el lanzamiento del Fondo de Innovación… (Official NCDHHS program announcement)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/2d60330b-78bd-4699-9f3c-c78ccfc91ecd/file) (primary) — official: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/news/press-releases/2026/09/30/governor-stein-launches-20-million-fund-increase-access-care-rural-north-carolina
- [NC - 2026 - Rural Health Innovation Fund Readiness Intake (Official readiness-intake application portal)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/f0c561ec-509a-46f6-812c-a74d336a4791/file) — official: https://ncsu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_80qBAYwAxIrmMSi

More North Carolina RHTP activity: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/nc (markdown: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/nc.md)

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Source: Rural Care Journey (RCJ), https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/north-carolina-rural-health-innovation-fund--6bb836649f — data as of 2026-10-02.
Cite the RCJ page for the summary and the linked official source for authoritative terms, deadlines, and amounts.