Rural Health
News by Topic: Community and economic development
Apr 16, 2026 - A study from Pennsylvania State University examines how the loss of everyday locations such as grocery stores, pharmacies, primary care clinics, schools, and churches may affect health. The authors focus on a rural township in Pennsylvania and argue that such places act as health infrastructure, particularly in rural areas.
Source: Population Reference Bureau
Apr 15, 2026 - Between 2020 and 2025 the country's rural counties experienced a total loss of about 460,000 people. In most cases the primary driver of decrease was deaths outnumbering births, rather than outmigration.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Apr 7, 2026 - The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is accepting applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2026 Passenger Ferry Program, Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program, and Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program. Applications are due by May 11, 2026.
Source: Federal Register
Related funding:
Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program
Apr 6, 2026 - A North Carolina hospital that closed in 2023 may be reopened as the state's first Rural Emergency Hospital. Discusses funding and the impact on local economies when facilities close.
Source: North Carolina Health News
RBS: Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Delta Health Care Services Grant (DHCS) for Fiscal Year 2026
Federal Register
Apr 6, 2026 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) is accepting applications for the Delta Health Care Services (DHCS) grant program for fiscal year 2026. The purpose of the program is to address the unmet healthcare needs in the Delta Region through cooperation among healthcare professionals, institutions of higher education, research institutions, and economic development entities in the region.
Source: Federal Register
Related funding:
Delta Health Care Services Grant Program
Apr 2, 2026 - Describes community costs associated with regulations for addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contaminations in North Carolina wastewater systems. Discusses challenges for small water systems with focus on one community that faces increased costs after the main employer and town's primary water ratepayer closed.
Source: North Carolina Health News
Apr 1, 2026 - Discusses population shifts in rural communities between 2024 and 2025. Identifies areas of population decline despite national trends toward growth.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Mar 26, 2026 - Highlights housing policies from rural Maine, North Dakota, Washington, and Oregon that make their communities more affordable and livable, including for older adults and residents with disabilities.
Source: AARP
Mar 25, 2026 - Highlights work in New Hampshire, Colorado, and Maine to turn public places into gathering spaces that support community needs, promote wellness and accessibility, social programs, and more.
Source: AARP
Mar 24, 2026 - Discusses how a new dashboard offering Tennessee county-level data on various healthcare and quality of life measures will aid researchers and policymakers in understanding and impacting rural communities. Notes that programs such as the Rural Health Transformation Program will benefit from having data to help direct money to the areas most in need.
Source: The Daily Yonder