New Hampshire
GO-NORTH (Governor's Office of New Opportunities & Rural Transformational Health) — Director Donnalee Lozeau; co-led by NH DHHS
Year 1 Award
$204M
Solicitations
01
This state has published its solicitation framework — eligible entity criteria and allocation methodology are available — but has not yet opened the formal application window.
Analysis
New Hampshire received over $204 million for Year 1 of RHTP — the largest award among New England states — announced December 29, 2025. Governor Ayotte created a dedicated implementation office, GO-NORTH (Governor's Office of New Opportunities & Rural Transformational Health), led by Director Donnalee Lozeau, to oversee the program. NH DHHS (Public Health and Medicaid co-led the application) remains structurally involved. This dual-office structure is unusual nationally and signals that New Hampshire is treating RHTP as a political priority, not just a grants management exercise. New Hampshire's per-rural-resident figure of $326 is the third highest in this batch, reflecting a moderately rural state (37% nonmetro) with a small total rural population of 516,833. The state has 13 CAHs and 27 FQHCs serving a geographically dispersed rural population. New Hampshire has no federally recognized tribes; the Abenaki and other Indigenous communities in the state are not federally recognized, though the state has a Commission on Native American Affairs. By March 17, 2026, the Executive Council unanimously approved four initial non-competitive (sole source) contracts totaling approximately $133 million. These are not open grants — they are direct awards to named institutional partners. Future disbursements will use competitive RFPs. A fifth hub (Community Behavioral Healthcare) is pending Executive Council approval. This places New Hampshire firmly at Phase 2: framework published and first distributions made, with competitive solicitations forthcoming.
Applications & Compliance
Implementation Model
New Hampshire is using a hub-based model with named institutional partners for initial distributions and competitive grants for subsequent rounds. GO-NORTH established five "hub" categories, four of which were funded via non-competitive sole-source contracts approved March 17, 2026: Foundation for Healthy Communities ($66.5M), Community Development Finance Authority ($43.8M), University System of New Hampshire ($15.6M), and Community College System of NH ($6.7M). A fifth hub — Community Behavioral Healthcare — is pending Executive Council approval at a subsequent meeting (likely March 25, 2026). The sole-source structure for initial distributions means smaller organizations cannot apply directly for this first round. The path for FQHCs, CAHs, and rural health organizations to access funds runs through the institutional hubs — particularly the Foundation for Healthy Communities ($66.5M), which explicitly targets FQHCs, CAHs, county nursing homes, home health agencies, and EMS. Future competitive RFPs will be posted on the GO-NORTH website (gonorth.nh.gov).
Investment Priorities
Foundation for Healthy Communities — $66.5M
Supports rural providers including FQHCs, CAHs, county nursing homes, home health agencies, and EMS units to expand access to primary care and prevention. This is the largest hub and the primary entry point for most rural health organizations. Sub-competitive awards to providers under this hub are expected.
Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) — $43.8M
Rural capital improvement programs: large county nursing home renovation projects in Coos and Merrimack counties, and embedding child care facilities within health care settings.
University System of New Hampshire — $15.6M
Expand site-based and online educational programs for rural employers; launch the Governor's Health Scholars Awards Program to grow the rural health professional workforce.
Community College System of New Hampshire — $6.7M
Develop healthcare career pathways from high school to post-graduate work in rural areas.
Community Behavioral Healthcare — Pending Executive Council approval
Behavioral health hub; exact amount not yet public. Pending vote (likely March 25, 2026 or subsequent meeting). Hub institution confirmed as NH Community Behavioral Health Association (NHCBHA); five-year contract value $131.6 million.
What to Watch
Community Behavioral Healthcare hub approval
March 25, 2026 (est.)The fifth hub is pending Executive Council vote. Amount unknown. This will be the primary entry point for behavioral health providers, CCBHCs, and SUD treatment programs in rural New Hampshire. Monitor GO-NORTH and Executive Council for vote outcome.
Foundation for Healthy Communities sub-grant launch
Spring 2026The $66.5M hub is the pathway for FQHCs, CAHs, county nursing homes, home health agencies, and EMS. The Foundation for Healthy Communities (a NH nonprofit) will run the sub-grant process. Watch their website and GO-NORTH for application announcements.
GO-NORTH competitive RFP releases
Spring–Summer 2026Director Lozeau has signaled that future disbursements beyond the initial sole-source contracts will use competitive RFPs posted at gonorth.nh.gov. These will be the open-competition entry points for organizations that are not direct partners of the five institutional hubs.
Executive Council scrutiny
OngoingThe Executive Council initially paused spending in early March before approving contracts March 17. This scrutiny dynamic suggests future contract approvals may face similar review. Delays in Executive Council approval could affect the timeline for sub-grants to flow.
Tribal engagement gap
OngoingNew Hampshire has no federally recognized tribes. The federal CMS RHTP requirement for tribal consultation applies "as applicable" — NH may have certified minimal applicability. No tribal provisions appear in GO-NORTH materials. Organizations serving Indigenous community members (Abenaki, Pennacook descendants) through general community health programs should monitor whether GO-NORTH acknowledges Indigenous health equity in competitive RFP criteria.