Rural Capacity Investment Fund (RCIF)
Supporting Rural Nurses Across Alberta
$90 Million | 2026 - 2028
What is the RCIF?
The Rural Capacity Investment Fund (RCIF) is a collaborative initiative established through the Collective Agreement between signatory Employers and the United Nurses of Alberta (UNA). With $90 million in funding through March 30, 2028, the RCIF is dedicated to strengthening rural healthcare by supporting recruitment, retention, and capacity-building initiatives for nursing staff in rural Alberta.
Our Commitment to Meaningful Impact
The Fund's primary goal is to make a positive impact on the sustainability of rural operations by targeting initiatives, demonstration projects, and pilots that will make a meaningful impact to the experience of nurses in rural locations.
What does "Meaningful Impact" mean for RCIF?
The Committee prioritizes initiatives that:
Improved Experience
Directly improve the lived experience of rural nurses through enhanced working conditions, professional support, work-life balance, or access to resources
Addressing Root Causes
Targeting recruitment and retention challenges, like professional isolation, limited career advancement, and lack of housing and spousal employment opportunities.
Measurable Outcomes
Demonstrate measurable outcomes in recruitment and retention, such as reduced vacancy rates, less turnover, increased length of service, or improved satisfaction
Value and ROI
Provide good value and return on investment with a clear rationale for achieving stated goals
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Sustainability
Create sustainable, long-term workforce stability rather than short-term fixes, with potential to be maintained, scaled, or spread to other rural sites
Continuous Growth
Build on evidence and learning from previous successful initiatives, research, or best practices in rural healthcare workforce development ​
This meaningful impact framework guides every funding decision, ensuring that RCIF investments create positive, sustainable change for rural nurses and their communities.
Who is Eligible?
The RCIF primarily serves "difficult to recruit to" sites in Alberta's North, Central, and South Zones.
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These are locations facing challenges such as:
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✓ High vacancy rates
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✓ Vacancies unfilled for longer than 90 days
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✓ High turnover rates
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✓ Other recruitment and retention challenges identified by local teams ​
Note: In exceptional circumstances, the RCIF Committee may approve initiatives for difficult-to-recruit rural sites in the Edmonton and Calgary Zones.
How does RCIF work?
Evidence-Based Decision Making
​The RCIF Committee actively works to understand trends, challenges, and opportunities in rural areas across Alberta. Through ongoing engagement with rural sites, workforce data analysis, and input from nurses and healthcare leaders, the Committee makes strategic decisions about how to disperse funding based on identified needs and evidence of what will create meaningful impact. ​​​
What RCIF can support:
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Recruitment and retention incentives tied to return-for-service agreements
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Relocation assistance for nurses moving to rural areas
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Rural education and professional development
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Site or program-specific initiatives
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Demonstration projects and pilots addressing broader workforce challenges
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Initiatives targeting new employees and sustainable workforce development
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Other innovative strategies that demonstrate potential for meaningful impact on rural nursing recruitment and retention
The RCIF Committee
A joint committee of five Employer and five Union representatives (including representation from Covenant Health) oversees the Fund. With the assistance of a neutral facilitator, the Committee uses consensus-based decision-making to tackle topics such as:
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✓ Allocation of annual funding across priority areas
✓ The review and approval of local initiatives
✓ Quarterly assessment of effectiveness
✓ Scaling successful programs
✓ Responding to emerging recruitment challenges
When is RCIF Available?
Funding opportunities will be available beginning in early 2026 and will continue through March 30, 2028.
The Committee reviews funding allocations and initiatives on an ongoing basis, allowing the program to remain responsive to changing needs throughout this period.
2025
Collective Agreement Ratified
Early 2026
Program Launch
Ongoing
Rolling Reviews
Mar 30, 2028
Program Ends
What's Different This Time?
Building on Success
The first iteration of RCIF (2022-2024) supported rural nursing capacity through retention payments, relocation assistance, project initiatives, mileage reimbursement, and education funding. These investments provided valuable learning about what works in supporting rural nurses.
The 2024 - 2028 Focus
The renewed RCIF expands on previous efforts while adapting to address current and emerging challenges facing rural healthcare. ​
The Committee is committed to:
Learning from past initiatives and scaling what works
Responding to evolving rural workforce needs and trends
Making strategic investments that create lasting stability
Supporting the unique challenges facing rural nursing teams today
Using evidence and input from rural nurses to guide funding decisions
Your Voice Matters
We want to hear from you! Whether you're a nurse working in rural Alberta, a healthcare leader managing rural operations your insights are valuable.
Share Your Input
Help the RCIF Committee make informed decisions about how to invest $90 million in rural nursing capacity. We're seeking input on: ​
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Current recruitment and retention challenges in your area
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Barriers that make it difficult to attract or keep nurses in rural communities
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Successful strategies or initiatives you've seen work locally
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Ideas for new approaches the Committee should consider
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What would make the biggest difference in your rural worksite
Your feedback will directly inform funding decisions and help ensure RCIF investments address the real challenges facing rural nursing across Alberta.