USDA Grants to Support Distance Learning and Telemedicine
The United States Department of Agriculture is awarding grants
ranging from $50,000 to $1 million to institutions supporting
distance learning and telemedicine in rural communities. The deadline
for this competitive grant program is June 4.
The USDA Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grant Program (DLT) is
designed to serve communities of 20,000 residents or fewer. In
addition, the agency is encouraging applicants "to consider
projects that will promote equity and economic opportunity in rural
America, specifically those that advance the following key
priorities:
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Containing the COVID-19 pandemic;
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Ensuring racial equity;
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Rebuilding our rural economy; and
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Addressing the climate crisis."
Funds are to be used for broadband, networking hardware,
computers/devices, AV equipment, software, instructional programming
and support related to installing and procuring the tools to support
distance learning and telemedicine. A 15 percent match is required.
Eligible organizations include most state and local governmental entities, federally recognized Tribes, nonprofits, for-profit businesses and consortia of eligible entities. A PDF
fact sheet can be found here. Further details can be found at
rd.usda.gov.