Louisiana Rural Tech Catalyst Fund (RTCF) Launch

Summary

Louisiana’s Rural Tech Catalyst Fund (RTCF) Cohort 1 application window is closed. Louisiana Economic Development and the Louisiana Department of Health are reviewing applications under refined criteria aligned with finalized federal guidance. Award announcements are anticipated in mid-October 2026, followed by program launch and contracting; Cohort 2 applications are expected to open later.

Eligibility

Eligible organizations should be U.S.-based companies or organizations, generally founded within the past 10 years, with less than $50 million in prior funding. Proposals must address a meaningful rural health care challenge and demonstrate readiness to implement and validate the solution during the program period.

Requirements Checklist

• Solutions should be beyond the idea stage and generally at Technology Readiness Level 4 or higher. Evaluation considers innovation, rural-health impact, technical and operational feasibility, measurable implementation milestones, and alignment with Louisiana rural-health priorities. RTCF is milestone-based rather than a traditional grant; initial funding is generally limited to 20% of the total award, with later payments tied to verified milestones.

Submission Instructions

Cohort 1 application closed. Monitor the RTCF/LA.IO program page for Cohort 2 announcements.

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