The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is giving funding priority in two key grant programs to address opioid misuse in rural communities, announced State Director John Huffman today.
“The opioid epidemic is a devastating issue for communities across the country," said Huffman. "It is a particularly difficult problem for rural areas where resources may be more limited or residents may have to travel long distances to access essential services. By targeting our resources, we are helping rural communities build an effective local response to meet the unique challenges in their area."
The National Center for Health Statistics estimates that nearly 64,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2016. More than half of those deaths involved opioids, including prescription drugs and heroin. To help address this crisis, Rural Development is reserving $5 million nationwide under the Community Facilities Grant Program and is giving priority to Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program applications proposing innovative projects to address the opioid epidemic in rural communities.
Community Facilities Program loans and grants may be used to develop essential community facilities—such as health clinics, schools, or fire departments—in rural towns with a population of 20,000 or less. Public bodies, nonprofits, and federally-recognized tribes are eligible to apply. Community Facilities grants may fund up to 75 percent of an eligible project, depending on the income level of the community served.
The maximum award amount for Community Facilities grants is typically $50,000; however, applications for innovative projects seeking to address the opioid epidemic may qualify for grants of up to $150,000 under the reserve announced today. These grants may support, for example, the purchase of healthcare or emergency service equipment, rolling stock needs, or mobile clinics focused on opioid addiction treatment.
Applications for Community Facilities grants funded through this reserve should be submitted by June 1, 2018. All other Community Facilities Program applications are accepted year-round. For more information, or to discuss a proposed project, contact a local Community Programs specialist.
Distance Learning and Telemedicine grants may be used to overcome the effects of remoteness and low population density in rural communities through the unique capabilities of telecommunications to link teachers or medical service providers in one area to students or patients in another area. Most state and local government entities, federally-recognized tribes, nonprofits, for-profit businesses, and consortia of these entities are eligible to apply.
Applicants will receive priority for telemedicine projects with the primary purpose of providing opioid prevention, treatment, or recovery services. Eligible proposals can receive 10 priority points.
The deadline to apply is June 4, 2018. Grants are awarded through a national competition. For additional information, including details on how to apply, see page 14245 of the April 3, 2018, Federal Register. For questions, contact the Loan Origination and Approval Division, (202) 720-0800.
Funding for both programs was made available through the FY 2018 Omnibus spending bill. The funding comes as USDA is partnering with rural communities to address this national opioid addiction emergency. The Department is investing in treatment facilities and services, e-connectivity and telemedicine, and public education efforts. In addition to program investments, USDA is helping communities share information about best practices to address the crisis. Visit USDA’s opioid misuse in rural America webpage for more information.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community services such as schools, public safety, and healthcare; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/or.