Health care facilities in rural North Carolina have an opportunity to seek grants that cover the cost of renovation/construction projects and/or equipment purchases. Up to $500,000 is available from the Rural Hope program, with the actual grant amounts determined by the number of new, full-time jobs that will be created as a result of the bricks and mortar improvement.
The North Carolina Rural Center is partnering with Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, Golden LEAF Foundation, Appalachian Regional Commission, USDA Rural Development, and the NC Office of Rural Health to sponsor the third round of the Rural Hope program.
A few of the key points of the program include:
- Eligible applicants are limited to governmental entities (municipalities or counties) and 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, nonprofit organizations. Private health providers and for-profit facilities wishing to apply must partner with a governmental unit in order to submit a pre-application.
- Grants may be used to assist in the construction or renovation of new or existing health care facilities or for the purchase of new equipment.
- Eligible health care facilities include – but are not limited to – hospitals, urgent care centers, community and rural health centers, hospices, elder care facilities, public health departments, free clinics and offices of physicians, dentists, vision care specialists and mental health care providers.
- Pre-application materials are due to the Rural Center by November 7, 2011.
Details and application materials are available at http://www.ncruralcenter.org/community-programs/rural-hope.html.
