Opportunity Information: Apply for HRSA 26 036
The Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP)-Planning is a federal grant opportunity from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) designed to help rural communities get organized and build the groundwork for a stronger, more coordinated response to substance use disorder (SUD). While the program is rooted in addressing opioid misuse and opioid use disorder (OUD) in rural America, HRSA is clear that opioid misuse often overlaps with other substance issues, including alcohol. Because of that reality, RCORP-Planning encourages communities to think beyond a single substance and plan for a full continuum of behavioral health and related social supports that people may need at different stages, including prevention, treatment, and recovery.
The key purpose of this specific funding track is planning only. The award is meant to help communities develop partnerships, infrastructure, and readiness to implement and sustain a comprehensive SUD service system later on. In practical terms, RCORP-Planning is positioned as a start-up step for rural areas that may struggle with the administrative complexity, scale, or operational demands of larger federal programs. The aim is to make it easier for rural organizations to bring the right partners to the table, map existing gaps, align local resources, and create a realistic roadmap for building services that are accessible, community-supported, and capable of lasting over time. Importantly, grant funds cannot be used for direct service delivery under this opportunity, meaning the focus must remain on activities like coalition building, needs assessments, strategic planning, workforce and service system development planning, and other preparatory work that sets the stage for future implementation funding.
RCORP-Planning is intended to help rural communities prepare to reduce substance use initiation and misuse, respond to the mental, behavioral, and psychosocial needs of people who use illicit substances or misuse alcohol, and support those in recovery. The broader outcomes HRSA is trying to influence include fewer substance-related illnesses and deaths, including deaths related to OUD, especially in rural communities considered high risk. Another central theme is building systems that are easier to access and strengthening the behavioral health workforce, recognizing that rural areas often face shortages of trained providers and limited service availability across large geographic areas.
From an eligibility standpoint, this is a wide-open opportunity for domestic applicants across many organization types. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; and for-profit organizations including small businesses. HRSA defines "domestic" broadly to include the 50 states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, several US territories, and certain Pacific jurisdictions (including the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau).
The funding opportunity is listed as discretionary, using a grant funding instrument, under CFDA 93.690. The opportunity number is HRSA-26-036. HRSA expects to make about 40 awards, with an award ceiling of $100,000 per award. The application closing date is July 8, 2026. Overall, this program is best understood as a planning and capacity-building on-ramp for rural communities that want to build a sustainable, locally owned system to prevent and address opioid and other substance-related harms, but need initial support to organize, assess, design, and coordinate before launching or expanding direct services.Apply for HRSA 26 036
- The Health Resources and Services Administration in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP)-Planning" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.690.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-05.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-08. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 40 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Unrestricted.
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RCORP-Planning (HRSA-26-036) Grant FAQs
1) What is the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP)-Planning?
RCORP-Planning is a federal grant opportunity from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) that supports rural communities in organizing, building partnerships, and laying the groundwork for a stronger, more coordinated response to substance use disorder (SUD). This funding track is specifically focused on planning and readiness, not delivering services.
2) What is the main goal of the RCORP-Planning funding track?
The main goal is to help rural communities build the partnerships, infrastructure, and implementation readiness needed to later create, expand, and sustain a comprehensive SUD service system. It is designed as a start-up step for rural areas that may face administrative complexity or capacity barriers with larger federal programs.
3) Is this grant only about opioids and opioid use disorder (OUD)?
No. While the program is rooted in addressing opioid misuse and opioid use disorder (OUD) in rural America, HRSA notes that opioid misuse often overlaps with other substance issues, including alcohol. RCORP-Planning encourages communities to plan beyond a single substance and consider a fuller continuum of behavioral health and related social supports.
4) What kinds of needs is HRSA trying to address through this program?
RCORP-Planning is intended to help rural communities prepare to:
- Reduce substance use initiation and misuse
- Respond to mental, behavioral, and psychosocial needs of people who use illicit substances or misuse alcohol
- Support people in recovery
5) What are the expected longer-term outcomes HRSA is aiming for?
The broader outcomes HRSA is trying to influence include fewer substance-related illnesses and deaths, including deaths related to OUD, particularly in rural communities considered high risk. Another major emphasis is improving access to services and strengthening the behavioral health workforce in rural areas.
6) Is RCORP-Planning an implementation grant or a planning grant?
It is a planning-only grant. The intent is to fund preparatory work that positions a community to implement and sustain a comprehensive SUD system later on.
7) Can RCORP-Planning funds be used for direct service delivery?
No. Under this opportunity, grant funds cannot be used for direct service delivery. The focus must remain on planning and capacity-building activities that set the stage for future implementation.
8) What kinds of activities are appropriate for RCORP-Planning funding?
Based on the description provided, appropriate uses include planning and readiness activities such as:
- Coalition building and partnership development
- Needs assessments and gap analyses
- Strategic planning and roadmap development
- Workforce planning and behavioral health workforce development planning
- Service system development planning and infrastructure/readiness work
- Coordination efforts that align local resources and prepare for sustained implementation
9) Why is this opportunity described as an "on-ramp" for rural communities?
RCORP-Planning is positioned as a start-up step for rural areas that may struggle with the scale, operational demands, or administrative complexity of larger federal programs. The funding helps communities get organized, bring partners together, assess local needs, align resources, and design a realistic plan before launching or expanding services through other funding.
10) Who is eligible to apply?
This is a broad eligibility opportunity for domestic applicants. Eligible applicants include:
- State, county, and local governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations
- Public housing authorities
- Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status
- For-profit organizations, including small businesses
11) What does HRSA mean by "domestic" applicants?
HRSA defines domestic to include the 50 states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, several U.S. territories, and certain Pacific jurisdictions, including the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.
12) How many awards does HRSA expect to make?
HRSA expects to make about 40 awards under this opportunity.
13) What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $100,000 per award.
14) What is the application deadline?
The application closing date is July 8, 2026.
15) What is the opportunity number for this grant?
The opportunity number is HRSA-26-036.
16) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 93.690.
17) What type of funding is this (discretionary vs. mandatory) and what is the funding instrument?
This opportunity is listed as discretionary, and it uses a grant funding instrument.
18) What does HRSA want communities to build during the planning period?
HRSA wants communities to build the groundwork for a coordinated, community-supported, sustainable SUD response system. That includes developing partnerships, identifying gaps, aligning resources, and creating a roadmap that can support prevention, treatment, and recovery over time.
19) Does the program address workforce challenges in rural areas?
Yes. A central theme is strengthening the behavioral health workforce and improving access to services, reflecting rural shortages of trained providers and limited service availability across large geographic areas.
20) How broad is the program's view of support needs?
RCORP-Planning encourages communities to plan for a full continuum of behavioral health and related social supports that people may need at different stages, including prevention, treatment, and recovery, recognizing that substance use challenges can overlap across opioids, alcohol, and other substances.
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