Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will fund 81 Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) projects in 32 states. These projects will help connect rural communities with medical and educational experts in other parts of the country, increasing access to health care, substance misuse treatment and advanced educational opportunities.
“Using technology for educational opportunities and medical care can provide services that are often unavailable in rural areas,” Vilsack said. “USDA’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program helps communities better meet the needs of their residents. For example, opioid and other substance misuse disproportionately affect rural areas, and telemedicine is proving to be an effective tool for treating patients when experts otherwise would be unavailable. Hospitals, schools and training centers across the country are successfully using telecommunications to deliver specialized care to area residents, and we are proud to bring these capabilities to 81 additional communities.”
USDA is awarding $23.4 million in grants to support 45 distance learning and 36 telemedicine projects. Three of these projects are located in Minnesota, an investment totaling more than $500,000.
One of the recipients announced today, the Boise Forte Band of Chippewa in Nett Lake, Minn., will receive a $91,821 grant to implement telemedicine, tele-pharmacy and distance learning technology, and improve the availability of health services at all Boise Forte Health and Human Services locations. The network will give health care professionals the ability to connect in real time with healthcare facilities where transportation is a challenge.
In Hibbing, Minn., the Education Innovation Partners Cooperative Center has been selected to receive $365,968 to extend distance learning capabilities to over 4,800 students and 200 teachers at 24 rural k-12 schools in northern Minnesota, including one site on the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa reservation. This project will allow these institutions to: expand high school courses to educationally disadvantaged students, provide access to college courses, and provide access to enrichment opportunities currently unavailable in many rural communities including music lessons and cultural preservation activities. This project will also nurture the professional development and establishment of professional learning communities among teachers to ensure the delivery of high quality education.
In Braham, Minn., East Central Minnesota Educational Cable Cooperative has been selected to receive a $50,000 grant to expand educational opportunities to 10 schools in east central Minnesota. The project will promote higher education and workforce development strategies and work to preserve the Ojibwe language and culture through distance learning technology.
USDA Rural Development has provided $213 million for 634 DLT projects in rural areas nationwide since 2009. USDA’s Rural Utilities Service, which administers the DLT program, also offers infrastructure programs that bring broadband, safe drinking water and improved wastewater treatment facilities to rural communities.
USDA Rural Development also invests in housing, water and wastewater treatment, community facilities, local foods, renewable energy and energy efficiency, and broadband. Since 2009, USDA has invested over $6 billion in rural community economic development throughout Minnesota across more than 40 programs.
For more information on USDA’s programs, visit www.rd.usda.gov/mn and contact your local area office.