Grants for Transportation in Highly Rural Areas

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced the "Grants for Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas – New Applicants" (VA-HRTG-NEW-2026) funding opportunity, offering approximately $7 million in FY 2026. This program provides grants up to $50,000 for one year to Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) and State Veterans Service Agencies to offer innovative, free transportation services to Veterans in highly rural areas (less than seven persons per square mile) for VA-authorized healthcare appointments. Applications are due by May 5, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time via Grants.gov. Eligibility requires an EIN, UEI, and active SAM.gov registration. Applications are evaluated based on program plan (40 points), evaluation plan (30 points), community relationships (20 points), and innovative aspects (10 points), with a minimum score of 50 points required. Grantees must comply with federal regulations, submit regular performance reports, and participate in quarterly conference calls.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is launching the Grants for Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas program (VA-HRTG-NEW-2026), offering approximately $7 million in grants for fiscal year 2026. This initiative aims to provide innovative transportation services to Veterans residing in highly rural areas (less than seven persons per square mile) to access VA-authorized healthcare. Eligible applicants include Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) and State Veterans Service Agencies. Grants are capped at $50,000 per highly rural area for a one-year period, with no charges to Veterans for services. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov by May 5, 2026, 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Key prerequisites include an EIN, UEI, and active SAM.gov registration. Applications will be reviewed based on program implementation, evaluation, community relationships, and innovative aspects.