The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that it will be offering the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program for the Fiscal Year 2020.
About the Program
The DLT Grant Program is specifically designed to assist rural communities in acquiring distance learning and telemedical technologies so that local teachers, and medical service providers who serve rural residents can link to other teachers, medical professionals, and other needed expertise located at distances too far to access otherwise.
Available Funds
There is approximately $71.7 million available for funding opportunities under the DLT grant program. Of that total, $12 million is to be used for telemedicine and distance learning projects to help address the opioid epidemic in rural America. An additional $9.4 million is intended for telemedicine projects that provide substance use disorder treatment services in rural areas.
The remaining $50.3 million is available for all eligible projects.
The minimum grant amount is $50,000, the maximum grant amount is $1,000,000.
Eligibility Information
Only entities legally organized as one of the following are eligible for DLT Grant Program financial assistance:
- An incorporated organization;
- An Indian tribe or tribunal organization;
- A state or local unit of government;
- A consortium;
- Other legal entity, including a private corporation organized on a for-profit or not-for-profit basis
Applicants must have a DUNS number and an active registration.
Corporations that have been convicted of a Federal felony within the past 24 months are ineligible.
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirements
Grant applicants must demonstrate matching conributions of at least 15 per cent of the grant amount requested.
Special Consideration
Special consideration may be awarded to:
- Telemedicine projects having the primary purpose of providing treatment and counselling services for opioid or other substance use disorder;
- Distance learning projects having the primary purpose of providing access to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math courses;
- Telemedicine or distance learning projects having at least one end-user site physically located in an Opportunity Zone
For more information on your organization’s eligibility, contact us here.
