Distance to Care & Services
Access isn’t just about distance—it’s about how care and services are designed, delivered, and experienced.
Rural residents travel over twice as far for healthcare compared to urban populations. But distance isn’t just a transportation issue. It’s a broader challenge of how people access the care, services, and support they need—when and where they need them.
This page will be updated with project milestones, engagement opportunities, and what we're learning along the way.
Status: a quick look where we’re at in our process with this impact theme
For Technology Companies
Open RFP Solicitation for Technologies
AscendRural, a program of Sourcewell — a State of Minnesota local government unit and service cooperative — is requesting proposals for the AscendRural Innovation Challenge: Bridging Distance to Rural Care & Services, to result in a procurement solution for use by Sourcewell Participating Entities.
This solicitation seeks innovative technology-enabled solutions that reduce the impact of distance on rural communities' access to healthcare, services, and essential goods. Proposals must address one or more of five problem areas: transportation access and coordination; local access to primary, specialty, and oral care; managing chronic conditions; last-mile delivery of essentials; and strengthening the business of rural access.
Sourcewell Participating Entities include thousands of governmental, higher education, K-12 education, nonprofit, tribal government, and other public agencies located in the United States. A full copy of the Request for Proposals can be found on the Sourcewell Procurement Portal. Only proposals submitted through the Sourcewell Procurement Portal will be considered. Proposals are due no later than October 6, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. Central Time, and late proposals will not be considered.
For Community Collaborators
Join a community cohort
Rural communities know their challenges better than anyone. Our Community Cohorts create a collaborative space where rural non-profits and government agencies work alongside AscendRural to identify needs, evaluate potential technologies, and co-design pilots that deliver sustainable impact.
Each cohort is centered on a specific theme. This cohort is focused on finding solutions to barriers created by distance to care and services.
Insights
AscendRural Challenges Innovators to Close the Rural Care Gap
By AgeTech Collaborative from AARP
A new path to government procurement built with rural communities at the center
By AscendRural