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USDA Awards Grant to University of Utah to Boost Rural Education

Name
Jamie Welch Jaro
City
Salt Lake City
Release Date

USDA Rural Development State Director Dave Conine today announced that USDA has awarded a grant of $469,300 to the University of Utah for the Utah Education Network to improve access to new state funded concurrent enrollment offerings for Utah’s rural high schools and college credit classes to communities.

“Utah’s rural schools face significant challenges in education versus schools in non-rural areas. They have greater difficulty hiring teachers and offering specialty programs,” said Conine. “This Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant will serve thousands of rural students across Utah, providing them with the opportunity to get a head start on advancing their education.”

USDA Rural Development’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program is specifically designed to assist rural communities in acquiring distance learning and telemedical technologies so that local teachers and medical service providers who serve rural residents can establish interactive video conferencing links to teachers, medical professionals, and other needed expertise located at distances too far to access otherwise.

Through this grant, the Utah Education Network anticipates approximately 15,875 Utah students in 46 rural schools and communities will be served. In addition, distance learning services will be established for the first time to the Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Indians.

Funding for the recipient is contingent upon their meeting the terms of the grant agreement.

President Obama's historic investments in rural America have made our rural communities stronger. Under his leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way - strengthening America's economy, small towns and rural communities.