Grants

MDH Rural Hospital Capital Improvement Grant

On June 1, 2026, Northern Itasca Hospital District, dba Bigfork Valley, was awarded a grant from the Minnesota Department of Health – Rural Hospital Capital Improvement Program. This funding will advance operations and integrate services within and between our ambulance and emergency departments.

This grant will have administrative oversight as follows:

Nathan Hough, CEO, nhough@bigforkvalley.org: delegated authority & executive oversight

Jennifer Rissanen, Hospital DON, jrissanen@bigforkvalley.org: emergency department oversight

Justin Root, Manager EMS/NEMT, jroot@bigforkvalley.org: ambulance service oversight

Sandra LeBlanc-Boland, Fund Development Coordinator: sleblanc-boland@bigforkvalley.org: grant contract management

Ambulance Service Training & Staffing Grant

On July 9, 2026, Northern Itasca Hospital District, dba Bigfork Valley Ambulance was awarded a one-year Ambulance Service Training & Staffing grant from the Minnesota Office of Emergency Medical Services.  The purpose of the grant is to train individuals who live and work in or near our service area.  Bigfork Valley Ambulance aims to reduce staffing shortages, improve patient care capacity, and ensure continued access to emergency medical services or the residents and visitors of our service area. This grant will have oversight as follows:

Nathan Hough, CEO, nhough@bigforkvalley.org :  delegated authority & executive oversight

Justin Root, Manager EMS/NEMT, jroot@bigforkvalley.org:  program oversight

Sandra LeBlanc-Boland, Fund Development Coordinator, sleblanc-boland@bigforkvalley.org:  grant contract management

 

Federal Transit Administration/USDOT ARPA – Vehicle Insurance Grant

On July 28, 2026, Northern Itasca Hospital District, dba Bigfork Valley was awarded Federal Transit Administration/USDOT ARPA – Vehicle Insurance grant through MNDOT.  The purpose of the grant is to provide financial assistance to FTA Section 5310 Program subrecipients serving seniors and individuals with disabilities, by reimbursing for the costs of vehicle liability insurance coverage incurred during the period March 20, 2020, through December 31, 2023.  This grant will have oversight as follows:

Nathan Hough, CEO, nhough@bigforkvalley.org :  delegated authority & executive oversight

Sandra LeBlanc-Boland, Fund Development Coordinator, sleblanc-boland@bigforkvalley.org:  grant contract management