The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) of USDA Rural Development has announced it is accepting applications for its Distance Learning Telemedicine (DLT) Grant through July 17, 2017.
Recent DLT grants in Nevada have been awarded to Renown Medical Center, and the Nevada System of Higher Education, as well as the Yerington and Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribes. The Yerington Tribe received a DLT grant that allowed their Health Center to add video teleconferencing so their people can receive health care consultations remotely by physicians in Reno. The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe used a DLT grant to develop an innovative Tele-Pharmacy project to securely dispense prescriptions to three other rural Nevada tribes.
Eligible applicants include most state and local governments, federally recognized tribes, non-profits, and for-profit businesses. To be eligible for the grant, end user points for projects must be located in communities with populations of 20,000 or less. Projects should be designed to provide access to education, training and/or health care resources for rural Americans. Funding must be used for telecommunications-enabled information, audio and visual equipment, and advanced technologies that extend educational and medical applications into rural areas.
The 2017 DLT Application Guide is available online.
The DLT is a competitive national grant. The minimum grant amount is $50,000; the maximum grant amount is $500,000. Grant applications must demonstrate matching contributions (in cash or in kind) of at least 15% of the total amount of financial assistance requested. Of the funding made available nationally, an estimated $1.6 million will be prioritized to provide for communication upgrades between ambulances, emergency transportation vehicles and medical facilities. Webinars on the grant are planned for May 31 and June 15.
Contact Nevada General Field Representative Rocky Chenelle at 530-379-5032 for more information or visit the national office website to learn more.