An annual grant funding opportunity has opened for both for-profit and nonprofit rural hospitals and education systems in purchasing telecommunication equipment to further advance distance learning and telemedicine (DLT). Congress has provided the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development $60 million for this funding opportunity, with individual grant funding ranging from $50,000 to $1 million.
On December 1, 2022, USDA Rural Development, Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small, announced the window for this year's DLT grant has opened with an application due date of January 30, 2023. Of the $60 million available, USDA Rural Development intends to allocate $12 million toward projects that provide substance use disorder treatment services in rural areas. Awarded applicants are required to provide a minimum 15 percent match and spend down the award over three years.
Funding through the USDA DLT grant program may be used for the following eligible capital assets:
- Audio, video, and interactive video equipment
- Broadband facilities used for distance learning or telemedicine (up to a certain percentage)
- Computer hardware, network components, and software
- Instructional programming
- Limited technical assistance and instruction about how to use DLT equipment
The application must demonstrate that the predominant purpose (50 percent or more of use) of every line item in the grant and match budget meets the grant definition of distance learning or telemedicine. Proposed projects will be evaluated based on USDA criteria measuring the rurality and economic needs of the areas to be served. Additional consideration will be given to projects focusing on substance abuse treatment for people in rural communities.
Click here for a summary of the grant application.
