# Rural Texas Strong Program – Initiative 4: The Next Generation of the Small Town Doctor and Team

The Rural Texas Strong Program – Initiative 4 supports eligible rural healthcare providers across Texas by enabling recruitment, training, and retention of healthcare professionals. Funds are used to build local education and workforce pipelines and deliver personnel retention strategies, with an emphasis on behavioral health needs and care team resilience. Program funding is statewide and no cost share/match is required.

## Key facts

- Status: Closed
- Type: RFA
- Issued by: Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) (Texas)
- Posted: 2026-04-27
- Questions due: 2026-05-08
- Application due: 2026-06-09
- Funding: $725,000
- Eligible applicants: Rural Healthcare Provider, Rural Hospital
- How to apply: HHSC Grants Management System (GMS) External Portal (https://hhsgrant.my.site.com/Grants). See Section VIII and Exhibit I of the RFA for instructions. Do not submit by email.
- Funding source: Rural Health Transformation Program (CMS)
- Official source: https://hhsgrant.my.site.com/Grants/FundingOpportunity?id=a0Fcr000005RDxZEAW

## Eligibility

Eligible applicants include rural healthcare providers, rural hospitals, and organizations serving rural communities in Texas. Eligibility is detailed in Section II (Scope of Grant) of the RFA. Applicants must be defined as rural healthcare entities under HHSC rules.

## Requirements

Applications must be submitted via the HHSC Grants Management System (GMS) External Portal. Applicants must comply with prohibited communication policies. Projects must develop education/training pipelines and implement retention strategies for rural health workforce. Grant funds may be used only for eligible activities, and may not be used for general operating expenses, debt payments, or administrative personnel costs or travel except with written HHSC approval. Administrative and travel costs are generally ineligible unless approved.

## Required attachments

- Solicitation Addendum Acknowledgement Form
- All posted addenda
- Application forms as specified in RFA

## Application package and source documents

- [TX - 2026 - Skip to Main An official Texas Health and Human Services website](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/6ed4dd7f-ecfc-438a-b5c2-1bf332995101/file) — official: https://hhsgrant.my.site.com/Grants/FundingOpportunity?id=a0Fcr000005RDxZEAW
- [TX - 2026 - Request for Application: HHS0017212 The Rural Texas Strong Program – Initiative 4: The Next Generation of the Small Town Doctor and Team](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/e5a34a26-7695-4c50-8fbd-93e997cdc642/file) — official: https://resources.hhs.texas.gov/rfa/hhs0017212
- [TX - 2026 - RFA No. HHS0017212](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/45e13648-0e2f-4850-8624-750939222aa2/file) — official: https://hhsgrant.my.site.com/sfc/servlet.shepherd/version/download/068cr00000nXHHLAA4
- [TX - 2027 - Request for Applications No. HHS0017212: The Rural Texas Strong Program – Initiative 4: The Next Generation of the Small Town Doctor and Team](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/a30520c1-8731-4e79-a434-0f0d14af3de3/file) — official: https://hhsgrant.my.site.com/sfc/servlet.shepherd/version/download/068cr00000oD9TiAAK
- [TX - 2026 - The Rural Texas Strong Program – Initiative 4: The Next Generation of the Small Town Doctor and Team - Solicitation Addendum No. 1](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/72b78007-58fe-4e92-85d4-b660fc59719f/file) — official: https://hhsgrant.my.site.com/sfc/servlet.shepherd/version/download/068cr00000nYbx2AAC
- [TX - 2026 - RFA No. HHS0017212 Exhibit I, Grants Management System (GMS) External Portal Information](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/f8c00c7c-64dc-4bf5-a9f3-5006d10f7e58/file) — official: https://hhsgrant.my.site.com/sfc/servlet.shepherd/version/download/068cr00000nMWoJAAW
- [TX - 2026 - Rural Texas Strong Program – Initiative 4: The Next Generation of the Small Town Doctor and Team (RFA No. HHS0017212)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/e1455b06-b171-496d-acb0-4f7b68c05e83/file) (primary) — official: https://hhsgrant.my.site.com/sfc/servlet.shepherd/version/download/068cr00000nMsosAAC
- [TX - 2026 - Intent to Award List for Rural Texas Strong Grants – October 14, 2026 (Intent to Award list — provisional pending contract execution (October 14, 2026))](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/aa8c80c3-dc00-4000-9af2-401b9e24c775/file) — official: https://pfd.hhs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/documents/rural-hlth-prgm/10-15-2026-list-award-recipients.xlsx
- [TX - 2026 - List of Applications Advanced to 'Intent to Award' Status as of October 23, 2026, for Rural Texas Strong (Rural Texas Strong Initiative 4.1 intent-to-award source)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/8ec6784a-d864-475c-99e0-4c3f3140eb7c/file) — official: https://pfd.hhs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/documents/rural-hlth-prgm/10-23-2026-list-award-recipients.xlsx
- [TX - 2031 - Attachment A - Scope of Grant Project for Rural Texas Strong Program, Initiative 4 (Sample grant agreement - Attachment A, Scope of Grant Project (Initiative 4.1, HHS0017212))](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/f726d046-ed07-4f1b-991a-9fb5f465ccf6/file) — official: https://pfd.hhs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/documents/rural-hlth-prgm/smple-contrct-initves-att-a-b.zip#zip-entry=Initiative%204.1_%20Att%20A%20Scope%20of%20Grant%20Project%20SAMPLE.pdf&sha256=3c9d26fbdf50
- [Texas Initiative 4.1 Att B Categorical Budgets SAMPLE RHTP 2026 Document (Sample grant agreement - Attachment B, Categorical Budgets (Initiative 4.1, HHS0017212))](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/67058890-79fc-4c77-b275-a5ef6ae203d4/file) — official: https://pfd.hhs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/documents/rural-hlth-prgm/smple-contrct-initves-att-a-b.zip#zip-entry=Initiative%204.1_%20Att%20B%20Categorical%20Budgets%20SAMPLE.pdf&sha256=26380e3b48fc
- [TX - 2026 - Contract Routing and Execution Instructions for Awardees (Awardee contract execution - Contract Routing and Execution Instructions (HHSC))](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/c8d67dac-b0ac-4f49-a136-395f9c2c9245/file) — official: https://pfd.hhs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/documents/rural-hlth-prgm/cntrct-rout-exec.pdf
- [TX - 2026 - Docusign Grant Agreement Example (Awardee contract execution - Docusign grant agreement example (HHSC))](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/fdc4ceee-8954-4163-9c6f-25c67bedb797/file) — official: https://pfd.hhs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/documents/rural-hlth-prgm/docusign-grant-agree-exmple.pdf
- [TX - 2026 - Sample Contract_Initiatives Att A and B (Awardee contract execution - Sample contract, Initiatives Attachments A and B (ZIP))](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/e42a43f6-b98a-4fce-8e3d-6d0fec6a09cf/file) — official: https://pfd.hhs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/documents/rural-hlth-prgm/smple-contrct-initves-att-a-b.zip
- [TX - 2026 - Sample Initiatives_Att C to J (Awardee contract execution - Sample contract, Attachments C to J (ZIP))](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/e5d74e27-7b38-4172-bddf-7edd52b4e748/file) — official: https://pfd.hhs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/documents/rural-hlth-prgm/smple-contrct-initves-att-c-j.zip

More Texas RHTP activity: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/tx (markdown: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/tx.md)

---
Source: Rural Care Journey (RCJ), https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/rural-texas-strong-program-initiative-4-the-next-generation-of-the-small-town-do--91945d2468 — data as of 2026-06-15.
Cite the RCJ page for the summary and the linked official source for authoritative terms, deadlines, and amounts.