(Dec. 24, 2025) – The Health Resources and Services Administration anticipates posting two opioid-related funding opportunities in February. The first, Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Planning, is estimated to be posted Feb. 2 and will provide funding to rural communities to help build partnerships and foundational capacities to develop, implement and sustain a comprehensive system of substance use disorder and related services. RCORP-Planning, focuses on opioid misuse and the impact on rural communities. HRSA expects to award 40 grants of up to $100,000 each. The estimated application due date is April 2026, with awards estimated to be announced in August 2026. HRSA intends for the funding to prepare rural communities to provide sustainable prevention, treatment, recovery and other supportive services that:
- Reduce substance use initiation and misuse;
- Address the mental, behavioral and psychosocial needs of people who use illicit substances or misuse alcohol, or are in recovery from substance use problems; and
- Reduce disease and death related to substance use problems, including OUD, in high-risk rural communities.
This program will fund planning activities. Funds may not be used for direct service delivery. For the complete list of eligible applicants, view the grant opportunity forecast.
The second opioid-related funding opportunity, the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Impact, is estimated to be posted on Feb. 23. HRSA expects to award 80 grants of up to $750,000 each. RCORP-Impact funds rural communities to drive measurable improvements in access to integrated, coordinated treatment and recovery services for substance use disorder, including opioid use disorder. Its long-term aim is to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with SUD and enable sustained recovery and well-being.
The program supports:
- New or expanded evidence-based SUD prevention, treatment and recovery services in rural areas;
- Coordination across health and supportive social services to enable sustained, long-term recovery;
- A larger, more responsive workforce to address SUD-related needs; and
- Multi-sector community networks to strengthen and sustain local service delivery.
The estimated application due date for the RCORP-Impact opportunity is April 22, 2026, with awards in August 2026. For more information on this opportunity, view the grant opportunity forecast.
--Karen Braman