Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) Grant

Grant Background

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services was awarded $203,670,005.21 in funding from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for the first year of the Rural Health Transformation Program. This investment will help support health care innovation and partnerships in rural Wisconsin.

This includes:

Strengthening the rural health care workforce by providing grants for innovative workforce projects in rural communities, supporting career pathways for rural health care providers, and funding services provided by community health workers.
Driving rural technology and innovation by investing in upgrades to rural provider systems and digital infrastructure and developing a digital rural health care collaborative.
Transforming rural care through partnerships by standing up a competitive grant program for rural regions to create coordinated systems of care where multi-sector partnerships show a clear path to sustainability.

Grant Announcement

Coming Spring 2026, rural LEAs will have an opportunity to apply for grants of up to $41,000 annually to develop new and expand healthcare and human services career pathways. A pool of $5 million over five years is being made available by the DPI from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ Rural Health Transformation Program, an initiative by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to strengthen and modernize healthcare in rural communities across the United States. The funding goal, a stronger, more resilient rural healthcare pipeline that connects students to postsecondary education, training, and employment opportunities in their communities.

Federal Funding Statement

This project is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through a subaward as part of a financial assistance award made to the State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services totaling $203,670,005.21 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Funding Overview

The initiative is aimed at directly increasing student participation in healthcare and human services career pathways, improving credential attainment, and helping address Wisconsin's critical rural healthcare workforce shortage. Twenty Wisconsin secondary schools will receive competitive grants to develop or expand Career and Technical Education courses, dual-credit opportunities, work-based learning experiences, industry-recognized credential offerings, and to establish or strengthen Wisconsin HOSA chapters.

General Information and Guidance

Eligibility

Grant Eligibility Criteria

Eligible Applicants

School districts (Local Education Agencies) are eligible to apply for this grant if they meet the following criteria:

Rural Locale Designation: The district is classified as a rural locale according to the current School Directory.
CTE Concentrators: The district has Career and Technical Education (CTE) concentrators for the 2024–2025 school year.

Eligible Districts List

DPI analyzed CTE courses from the 2024-2025 SY to determine CTE Concentrators. Based on analysis of 2024–2025 school year data, 213 rural LEAs meet these eligibility requirements. Only districts appearing on the official eligible LEA list may submit applications for this grant.

Abbotsford
Adams-Friendship Area
Albany
Alma Center
Alma
Almond-Bancroft
Amery
Antigo Unified
Argyle
Athens
Auburndale
Augusta
Baldwin-Woodville Area
Bangor
Barneveld
Barron Area
Bayfield
Beecher-Dunbar-Pembine
Belleville
Belmont Community
Benton
Birchwood
Black Hawk
Blair-Taylor
Bloomer
Bonduel
Bowler
Boyceville Community
Bruce
Butternut
Cadott Community
Cambria-Friesland
Cameron
Campbellsport
Cashton
Cassville
Cedar Grove-Belgium Area
Chequamegon
Chilton
Clayton
Clear Lake
Clinton Community
Cochrane-Fountain City
Colby
Colfax
Cornell
Crandon
Crivitz
Cuba City
Cumberland
Darlington Community
De Soto Area
Deerfield Community
Denmark
Dodgeland
Drummond Area
Durand-Arkansaw
Edgar
Elcho
Eleva-Strum
Elk Mound Area
Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah
Elmwood
Fall Creek
Fennimore Community
Flambeau
Florence County
Frederic
Freedom Area
Galesville-Ettrick-Trempealeau
Gibraltar Area
Gillett
Gilman
Gilmanton
Glenwood City
Goodman-Armstrong Creek
Granton Area
Grantsburg
Green Lake
Greenwood
Gresham
Highland
Hilbert
Hillsboro
Hortonville Area
Hurley
Hustisford
Independence
Iowa-Grant
Ithaca
Johnson Creek
Juda
Kickapoo Area
La Farge
Ladysmith
Lake Holcombe
Lakeland UHS
Laona
Lena
Lomira
Loyal
Luck
Luxemburg-Casco
Manawa
Maple
Marathon City

Marion
Markesan
Mauston
Medford Area Public
Mellen
Melrose-Mindoro
Menominee Indian
Menomonie Area
Mercer
Mineral Point Unified
Mishicot
Mondovi
Montello
Monticello
Necedah Area
Neillsville
Nekoosa
New Auburn
New Berlin
New Glarus
New Holstein
New Lisbon
Norris
North Crawford
Northern Ozaukee
Northland Pines
Northwood
Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton
Oakfield
Omro
Oostburg
Osseo-Fairchild
Owen-Withee
Palmyra-Eagle Area
Pardeeville Area
Parkview
Pecatonica Area
Pepin Area
Peshtigo
Phelps
Phillips
Pittsville
Plum City
Potosi
Poynette
Prairie Farm Public
Prentice
Princeton
Randolph
Random Lake
Reedsville
Rhinelander
Rib Lake
Richland
Rio Community
River Ridge
River Valley
Riverdale
Rosendale-Brandon
Rosholt
Royall
Saint Croix Falls
Seneca Area
Sevastopol
Shell Lake
Shiocton
Shullsburg
Siren
Solon Springs
South Shore
Southern Door County
Southwestern Wisconsin
Spencer
Spooner Area
Spring Valley
Stockbridge
Stratford
Suring Public
Thorp
Three Lakes
Tigerton
Tomorrow River
Tri-County Area
Turtle Lake
Unity
Valders Area
Wabeno Area
Washburn
Washington Island
Waterloo
Wausaukee
Wauzeka-Steuben
Webster
Westby Area
Westfield
Weston
Westosha Central UHS
Weyauwega-Fremont
White Lake
Whitehall
Wild Rose
Williams Bay
Wilmot UHS
Winter
Wisconsin Heights
Wittenberg-Birnamwood
Wonewoc-Union Center

Application Details

2026-31 RHTP Grant Competition

Application closed June 30, 2026, 5:00 p.m.

Application Materials

Webinars

RHTP Grant Application Orientation Session

Event Date: June 10, 2026, from 10:00-11:00 a.m.
Event Description: The RHTP Grant orientation session will equip potential applicants with a comprehensive understanding of grant fund purposes, eligibility requirements, and application expectations to support successful submissions. The session will serve as an ongoing reference tool, enabling applicants to ask questions, navigate application components, and connect with resources throughout their submission journey. The session slides will be shared following the session and linked under Application Materials.
Recommended Audience: Grant writers and school district primary contact
Location: Virtual
How to Register: Complete the form by June 8, 2026. Save the date and time. A calendar invitation will be sent on June 8 to all registered participants. Register for the RHTP Grant Application Orientation Session.

RHTP Grant Application Q&A Session

Event Date: June 24, 2026, from 10:00-11:00 a.m.
Event Description: The RHTP Grant orientation session will equip potential applicants with a comprehensive understanding of grant fund purposes, eligibility requirements, and application expectations to support successful submissions. The session will serve as an ongoing reference tool, enabling applicants to ask questions, navigate application components, and connect with resources throughout their submission journey. The session slides will be shared following the session and linked under Application Materials.
Recommended Audience: Grant writers and school district primary contact
Location: Virtual
How to Register: Complete the form by June 22, 2026. Save the date and time. A calendar invitation will be sent on June 22 to all registered participants. Register for the RHTP Grant Application Q&A Session.

Recipient Schools

Watch for information coming soon.

FAQ

Grant Application Orientation Session - June 10, 2026
Question(s)	Answer(s)
Why is my district not eligible to apply for this grant?	Beyond the requirement of having CTE concentrators from any pathway, eligibility to apply is also based on school locale designations.
What should we be ultimately aiming for with this grant program?	Build a stronger, more resilient rural healthcare workforce pipeline. Connect students with education, training, and employment within their communities. Foster industry and higher education partnerships Develop a quality healthcare and human services career pathway. - By the end of YR5, LEAs have a sustainable and quality state-approved career pathway.
What does it mean to have a quality, state approved career pathway by YR5?	To be a state approved career pathway, districts must have in place and offer: A sequence of at least two aligned CTE courses from introductory to more advanced. And any two or more of the following elements with students: Earning an industry-recognized credential, Enrolling in dual college credit classes, Participating in work-based learning experiences, and Accessing related career and technical student organizations (CTSOs): HOSA-Future Health Professionals are specifically approved for this grant.
What are the grant program funded activities?	Develop new or expand CTE courses and curriculum in healthcare and human services. Create dual enrollment opportunities with higher education institutions. Develop work-based learning experiences for authentic industry exposure. Support industry-recognized credential attainment for students. Establish new or strengthen existing HOSA-Future Health Professionals chapters.
What is the definition of a CTE Participant and Concentrator?	A Career and Technical Education (CTE) participant is a student enrolled in one or more CTE courses in the reporting year and completed (passed) at least one CTE course. A student is identified as a concentrator if they complete at least two CTE courses in a single career pathway throughout high school. Concentrator details for this student should be submitted in grades 11 and 12.
Do courses need to be taught by a CTE Teacher?	Yes – A career pathway must meet size, scope and quality by state definition, which includes a sequence of two CTE courses, from introductory to more advanced, aligned to a career pathway. CTE Course Credit = CTE Participants and Concentrators
What if courses are offered through a higher education partner?	This is allowed if the students are enrolled and receiving CTE credit on their high school transcript. CTE course Credit = CTE Participants and Concentrators
Can non-CTE DPI licensed teachers count as CTE teachers if they are approved to teach “Dual Enrolled” for the Technical College?	Yes – This is acceptable if the students are enrolled in a CTE course and receiving CTE credit on their transcript, not credit in the content area the teacher is licensed in (Heath and Science). CTE Course Credit = CTE Participants and Concentrators
Could the grant allow a CESA CTEC to serve as the primary contact of the grant?	Yes, if the LEA/school district contracts the CESA to serve as their primary contact/authorized representative for the grant. Note: Administrative grant coordination has a 10% limit (direct and indirect combined).
Can the funds support current CTE classes the district offers, or is it geared towards new classes?	YES – The focus of the grant is to develop new or expand a school district’s healthcare and human services career pathway.
Would the purchase of simulation manikins be considered capital equipment?	To be determined. Seeking clarification from DHS Grant Administrator.
Advance ACTE links Healthcare and Human Services as one cluster, does this grant only focus on healthcare?	NO – It also includes the Human Services career pathway. Any goals and funding should reflect the subclusters of the Human Services career pathway that align or overlap closely to the Healthcare career pathway. For example, the Behavioral & Mental Health subcluster of Human Services.
The Federal Notice of Award indicated a 5-year student post-placement commitment to work in a rural area. Is this a requirement for high schools if awarded funds?	NO – 5-year post-placement commitment is not required of the federal grant for early pipeline and career exploration programming at the high school level.
The Do (Action Plan) section of the application has very limited character limits. Is there any work around or can the application be adjusted?	The application cells for this section will not be adjusted; however, you are welcome to make this section work for you as is or submit an accompanying PDF document of your action plan with your grant application.
If I start filling out the form and stop before finishing, will my information be saved?	It is best to download the form first and save it to your preferred file storage network. The form will need to be saved as you work on it unless you have autosaved settings enabled.
In the Plan (Needs Assessment) Section, can the data focus on labor market/workforce need or is local school data preferred.	You are welcome to include any information you believe reflects identifying the needs to be addressed with the grant funds requested. The Federal Notice of Award and Wisconsin DHS (Grant Administrator) application was designed around identifying the workforce shortages and labor markets needs, so it is encouraged to use data for meaningful analysis on why your school district needs grant funding to address the needs of the target population.
Under Date Submitted in the Budget Summary, what should be submitted here?	Fill in or complete the Initial Request (mm/dd/yyyy) date only as this application budget represents the first request. After subrecipients are identified, DPI will work with schools to development a detailed budget to submit to WISEgrants. School districts will be able to revise the budget at that time for YR1 funding.
Can we use grant funds to pay for dual enrollment course fees that would have been passed on to the student? For example - Intro to Human Biology articulated through UW-GB required for students entering nursing and other health care programs.	Yes, Participating districts can use funding to developing dual-credit course offerings in partnership with local colleges.
Is there a project code for this federal grant?	Yes – Once the 20 schools have been identified, we can send the code for your district.
Can a mental health professional be paid if they are addressing the entire student body/assembly?	No, funds need to be directed towards developing new or expanding the pathway (courses, dual enrollment, WBL, IRC's and CTSO's.
What is the definition of Capital Expenditures?	Typically falls under unit, connect with your district so that you have the understanding as well. The state usually looks at $5,000 per unit.
Can the grant be used to pay or certified CNA instructor to teach under the CTE teacher in the CTE teacher's classroom?	Yes, it can be under purchase services in a contracted for services.
Can transportation be written into the grant for students to travel to NWTC, or a skilled nursing facility that is teaching CTE nursing classes?	Yes, transportation for students align to the pathway is allowable.
Regarding Licensing – Can the grant be used towards a science teacher obtaining the CTE license?	Yes, it can support Professional Development and curriculum development time, however, it cannot be used for DPI Licensing fees or course credit and alternative licensing teacher pathways.
If we have rollover for year 5, can I roll it outside of grant period (year 6)?	No. Nothing can be rolled over, there is a hard stop, and funds cannot go outside the grant years.
Is purchasing manikins considered capital equipment?	Capital equipment is defined as having a per-unit cost that equals or exceeds $10,000 and requires approval from CMS. However, subrecipient policies may have lower limits established.

Outcomes

Watch for information coming soon.