LINCOLN, Neb., December 16, 2024 – United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Nebraska Rural Development Acting State Director Joan Scheel today announced a $1 million grant to Educational Service Unit 13 (ESU13) in Scottsbluff. This grant will enable significant upgrades to distance learning systems throughout the Nebraska Panhandle, enhancing educational access for 5,042 students and 21 public high schools within 11 rural communities.
“By expanding access to critical educational services such as distance learning, this investment represents a significant step forward in fostering equity and opportunity for Nebraska’s panhandle,” Scheel said. “It not only ensures that students in rural and remote areas can access high-quality education, but it also strengthens the region’s economic prospects by developing a more skilled workforce. This investment bridges the geographic and socioeconomic divides, laying the foundation for long-term growth and resilience in both education and the economy.”
Background: Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants
Today’s awards are being funded through USDA’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) program. This program helps fund distance learning and telemedicine services in rural areas to increase access to education, training, and health care resources that are otherwise limited or unavailable.
Contact USDA Rural Development in Nebraska
Information on programs administered through USDA Rural Development in Nebraska is available by visiting www.rd.usda.gov/ne, contacting your local Rural Development office, or by following @RD_Nebraska on X.
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Rural Development offices in Nebraska: https://tinyurl.com/yc7pfytn
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