Grant Writing

Rural Health Futures has developed a successful track record of assisting rural communities and/or healthcare providers in presenting funding requests to a variety of federal, state and private agencies. Rural Health Futures primary strategy has been to focus on the needs and applications to be supported through outside funding. In most cases a sound solution design, presented to the proper agency, will find a receptive audience that is willing to commit funds to seeing the solution implemented.

The following are types of funding sources for which Rural Health Futures has prepared funding applications or has researched needed materials.

• National Telecommunications and Information Administration Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program: Planning and implementation of technology and telecommunication networks that enhance community access to the nations information infrastructure.
• Office of Rural Health Policy Telemedicine Grant: Implementation and research of Telemedicine (interactive videoconferencing) applications primarily focusing on the reimbursement issue.
• Office of Rural Health Policy Rural Outreach Grant: Providing new services to rural communities.
• National Institute of Health Small Business Innovation Research Grant : Small business collaboration with larger research institutions to develop new programs that address a variety of issues including healthcare and behavioral sciences.
• National Institutes of Science and Technology
• Nebraska Library Commission: Funding for construction of a public library that will meet all provisions of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or the purchase and installation of new equipment to access Internet, access Nebraska Online, automate library services, uses of information technology, and community wide information technology. Communities must provide a 50% cash match.
• Rural Utilities Service [ Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants ]: To finance rural economic development and rural job creation projects that are based on sound economic and financial analyses. Loans and grants are made to Rural Utilities Service (RUS) electric and telephone borrowers who use the funds to provide financing for business and community development projects. Loans are provided to finance a broad array of projects, including for-profit businesses. Grants are targeted to certain purposes such as community development assistance, education and training for economic development, medical care, telecommunications for education, job training or medical services, business incubators, and technical assistance. RUS borrowers may receive financing for grant purposes through either a grant to establish a revolving loan fund or a combination loan and grant.
• Rural Economic and Community Development [Business and Industrial (B&I) Guaranteed Loans]: To improve, develop, or finance business, industry, and employment, and to improve the economic and environmental climate in rural communities, including pollution abatement and control. This purpose is achieved through bolstering the existing private credit structure through guarantee of quality loans which will provide lasting community benefits. This type of assistance is available to businesses located in areas outside any city with a population of 50,000 or more and its immediately adjacent urbanized or urbanizing area. Eligible entities include corporations, partnerships, cooperatives, federally recognized Indian Tribes, individuals, and other legal entities.
• Rural Economic and Community Development [Rural Business Enterprise Grants]: To help public bodies, nonprofit corporations, and federally recognized Indian Tribal groups finance and facilitate development of small and emerging private business enterprises located in areas outside the boundary of a city of 50,000 or more and its immediately adjacent urbanized or urbanizing area. Funds may be used to finance and develop small and emerging private business enterprises. Costs that may be paid from grant funds include the acquisition and development of land and the construction of buildings, plants, equipment, access streets and roads, parking areas, utility and service extensions; refinancing; fees for professional services; technical assistance and training associated with technical assistance; startup operating costs and working capital; providing financial assistance to a third party; production of television programs to provide information to rural residents; and creation, expansion, and operation of rural distance learning networks.
• Rural Economic and Community Development [Intermediary Relending Program Loans]: To finance business facilities and community development projects in rural areas including cities with a population of less than 25,000. This is achieved through loans made by RBCDS to intermediaries who provide loans to ultimate recipients for business facilities and community development projects. Eligible intermediaries include public bodies, non-profit corporations, Indian Tribes, and cooperatives.
• Rural Utilities Service [Distance Learning and Telemedicine ( Loans and Grants )]: The farm bill authorizes the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loan Program at $100 million annually. The bill allows the Secretary of Agriculture to provide grants or loans to finance construction of facilities and systems to provide telemedicine and distance learning services to rural areas. Groups such as rural schools, hospitals, or businesses that use or provide telemedicine or distance learning services can apply for these funds in early fiscal year 1997.
• Rural Economic and Community Development [Rural Technology and Cooperative Development Grants]: To finance the establishment and operation of centers for rural technology and/or cooperative development. The grants are to improve the economic conditions of rural areas by promoting the development and commercialization of new services, products, processes, and enterprises in rural areas. Rural areas are areas outside the boundary of a city with a population of 50,000 or more and its immediately adjacent urbanized or urbanizing area. Eligible applicants are public bodies, nonprofit organizations, and federally recognized Indian Tribal groups.
• Variety of Private Foundations, for example the Gardner Foundation and the Peter Kiewet Foundation.

For additional information contact Kelli Schneider @ (970) 207-9798 or

E-mail address ptc@socencom.net