U.S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development (USDA-RD) Alaska State Director Jim Nordlund today announced that four Alaska entities have been awarded a total of $1,430,567 of Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Program grant funding through USDA-RD’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS).
DLT projects help increase access to health care and advanced educational opportunities in rural Alaska, and are used to purchase equipment to offer telemedicine or educational services in these communities. Many DLT project resources provide mental health treatment. Funding of each award announced today is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the loan or grant agreement.
"The DLT program delivers educational and medical opportunities that are urgently needed in remote, rural areas," Nordlund said. "These investments mean that students in rural Alaskan schools will have educational opportunities often not available outside urban areas. This funding also means that people who live and work in rural areas will not have to travel long distances for specialized health care services."
For example, in November 2015, six Alaskan recipients were awarded a total of $2,338,241 in DLT grants. Those DLT grant funding amounts were: $420,027 to North Slope Borough; $496,701 to Yukon Koyukuk School District; $279,106 to Eastern Aleutian Tribes, Inc.; $497,572 to Bering Strait School District; $290,188 to Alaska Children's Services, Inc.; and $354,647 to Kenai Peninsula Borough School District.
The four Alaska recipients announced today are:
Dena' Nena' Henash dba Tanana Chiefs Conference $375,000
Funding will expand the telemedicine program (Foundations and Innovations in Telehealth project.)
Copper River School District $488,558
To provide distance learning services to five primary schools in extremely remote Alaskan villages. The schools will share curriculum and professional development, mentorship. Three of the sites are on Native Alaskan trust lands.
Hope Community Resources, Inc. $279,820
To purchase video conferencing equipment to provide mental health and disability counseling along with training and support services to individuals and their families.
Arctic Slope Native Association, Ltd. $287,198
To purchase a tele-pharmacy remote dispensing system. Currently, medication can only be to flown into the remote five clinics.
Since 2009, the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development (USDA-RD) Alaska, has invested more than $2 billion in 226 rural Alaskan communities. These investments include project funding for housing, community facilities, business, energy, water and sewer, telecom and electric. All told, this funding has helped to grow rural Alaska’s economy and enhance the quality of life for its rural residents and that ultimately affects urban Alaska.