# Rural Hospital Planning & Transition Grant Program – FY2027

Minnesota Statutes Sec. 144.147 authorizes MDH to award grants to eligible rural hospitals to develop strategic plans that preserve or enhance access to health services, or to implement transition projects based on an existing strategic plan. FY2027 round: an estimated $300,000 across about 10 awards of $25,000-$49,000 (no single grant may exceed $49,000); applicants must certify at least a 50% match from non-state sources, and the local Community Health Board has a 30-day review/comment period. Project dates June 1, 2027 - May 31, 2028. State-funded program (not RHTP-funded); the RFP references RHTP only under Additional Resources.

## Key facts

- Status: Open
- Type: RFP
- Issued by: Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Rural Health and Primary Care (ORHPC) (Minnesota)
- Posted: 2026-10-19
- Application due: 2026-12-11
- Funding: $25,000 – $49,000
- Eligible applicants: Rural Hospital, Non-profit Hospital, Hospital Consortium
- How to apply: ORHPC Online Grants Portal: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=mdh
- Funding source: state-funded, not RHTP
- Official source: https://www.health.state.mn.us/facilities/ruralhealth/funding/grants/docs/rhptrfp.pdf

## Eligibility

Non-federal, general acute care hospital in Minnesota that is located in a rural area (as defined in federal Medicare regulations) or in a community with a population of less than 15,000 outside the seven-county metropolitan area, has 50 or fewer beds, and is not for profit.

## Requirements

Applicants must submit the following: (1) completed application via the ORHPC Online Grants Portal; (2) Governing Board Resolution or board-certified meeting minutes approving the project; (3) budget & budget narrative; (4) demonstration of community support; (5) documentation of a 30-day review/comment period by the local Community Health Board (CHB), including evidence of application sent to CHB and request for CHB comments submitted to MDH by January 12, 2027; (6) conflict of interest disclosure. Applications must address eligible project types: strategic planning (with non-grant-funded needs assessment, feasibility assessment, implementation plan) or transition projects based on a strategic plan. Other requirements include quarterly progress reports, mandatory compliance with Minnesota nondiscrimination laws, and adherence to state grant management and reporting policies.

## Required attachments

- Governing Board Resolution or certified meeting minutes
- Budget & Budget Narrative
- Community Support Demonstration
- Community Health Board Information (confirmation of 30-day review/comment period and CHB comments)
- Applicant Conflict of Interest Disclosure

## Application package and source documents

- [MN - 2026 - Rural Hospital Planning & Transition Grant Program FY2027 Grant Request for Proposal (RFP) (FY2027 Grant Request for Proposal (RFP))](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/91c50cd3-0e08-473f-9e09-bcf0440a4a5e/file) (primary) — official: https://www.health.state.mn.us/facilities/ruralhealth/funding/grants/docs/rhptrfp.pdf
- [MN - 2026 - Request for Proposal: Rural Hospital Planning and Transition Grant Program (MDH RFP posting notice (email))](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/f3468bb9-9510-48bd-9a1e-b07bbbc8d159/file)

More Minnesota RHTP activity: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/mn (markdown: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/mn.md)

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Source: Rural Care Journey (RCJ), https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/rural-hospital-planning-transition-grant-program-fy2027--54173c5291 — data as of 2026-10-20.
Cite the RCJ page for the summary and the linked official source for authoritative terms, deadlines, and amounts.