RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina is launching a new fund that will provide about $20 million a year to help rural health care providers modernize their technology and infrastructure.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the North Carolina Department of Information Technology announced the Rural Health Innovation Fund Wednesday.
The fund will distribute money for up to five years to help rural providers test and implement technology that improves patient care and eases operational challenges.
Eligible projects could include expanding telehealth, upgrading electronic health records, adding cybersecurity protections and using artificial intelligence for clinical decision support.
The first round of funding is open to primary care providers, federally qualified health centers, community health centers, and other eligible safety-net providers serving rural residents.
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Nov. 16, 2026. Awards are expected to be announced in January 2027, and projects must be completed by July 30, 2027.
The fund is part of North Carolina’s Rural Health Transformation Program. The state received more than $213 million in federal funding for the program’s first year in December 2025.
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