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USDA Accepting Applications for Distance Learning and Telemedicine Funding

Name
Vicki Schurman
City
Lincoln
Release Date

USDA Rural Development Acting Undersecretary Roger Glendenning has announced that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is accepting applications for the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017.  The Notice of Solicitation of Applications (NOSA) outlines that applications are due July 17, 2017.

DLT grants are designed to provide access to education, training, and health care resources for rural Americans. The DLT Program supports telemedicine and distance learning services in rural areas through the use of telecommunications, computer networks, and advanced technologies that benefit rural communities.

Applicants are encouraged to review the FY 2017 application guide and sample material that is available online at: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/distance-learning-telemedicine-grants.

More information on how to apply for this funding is available on pages 22477-22482 of the May 16, 2017 Federal Register.

A minimum grant amount of $50,000 and a maximum grant amount of $500,000 will be awarded through a competitive process for FY 2017, based on requirements that can be found at  7 CFR part 1703. Of the funds made available this year, $1.6 million will be prioritized to provide for communication upgrades between ambulances, emergency transportation vehicles and medical facilities.

A couple of the prior Nebraska recipients include:
• Mid-Plains Community College- North Platte Campus received a $100,144 grant to purchase video conferencing equipment to deliver courses to four extended campuses and a rural college.
• Rural Health Partners, Inc. dba Heartland Health Alliance of Holbrook, received a $209,663 grant to purchase telemedicine carts for 11 rural hospitals.  The carts assist patients by providing access to tele-emergency, tele-mental health triage, tele-hospitalist, and tele-specialist consulting services.

For more information in Nebraska contact General Field Representative Roger Meeks at (402) 416-4936 or roger.meeks@wdc.usda.gov.