The Office of Rural Health Policy's Rural Access to Emergency Devices (RAED) Grant Program provides funding to rural communities to purchase automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and provide training in their use and maintenance. The legislation that created this program states that awards will be made to community partnerships. These partnerships are defined as a consortium of first responders (e.g., EMS, law enforcement and fire departments) and local for and non-profit entities that may include, but are not limited to, long-term care facilities, rural health clinics, community health centers, post offices, libraries and other civic centers, athletic facilities, senior citizen and day care facilities, faith-based organizations and schools without AEDs. An applicant must be part of a statewide, regional or multi-county consortium or rural community organizations applying as a community partnership. Funding preference is given to those community partnerships that are State-wide in scope. Each community partnership must have a designated lead applicant as the grantee of record and to act as the fiscal agent for the partnership. In order to qualify as a statewide community partnership, all eligible counties do not have to be included. However, a state level office must be the lead applicant. State Emergency Medical Services Offices and State Offices of Rural Health are encouraged to apply as a lead applicant.

Only those community partnerships that are located in or that serve areas that are eligible for Rural Health grants may apply for RAED Grants. For information on what areas are eligible for RAED Grants see Geographic Eligibility for Rural Health Grant Programs.

Please note that the email address is ruralems@hrsa.gov for any inquiries regarding the RAED Grant Program.