The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) an agency within USDA, posted their Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) grant program Funding Opportunity Application (FOA) (RUS-20-01-DLT) on February 10, 2020, announcing that applications are being accepted.
Approximately $71.7 million is anticipated to be funded under this FOA. Of that total, $12 million may only 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 to provide substance use disorder treatment services in rural areas. The remaining $50.3 million is available for all eligible projects. The award ceiling for the FOA notice posted is $1,000,000 with a 15% match required. Applications for this FOA must be submitted by April 10, 2020.
The goal for the FOA is to help increase access to education, training, and healthcare resources in rural communities. Applicants in rural areas of 20,000 people or less who provide education of healthcare services through telecommunications facilities are eligible to apply.
Grants are for projects where the benefit is primarily delivered to end users that are not at the same location as the sources of the education or healthcare services. Grants may be used to acquire equipment and other capital assets such as:
- Broadband transmission facilities
- Audio, video, and interactive video equipment
- Terminal and data terminal equipment
- Computer hardware, network components, and software
- Inside wiring and similar infrastructure that will further DLT services
Grants can be also used to acquire instructional programming, and technical assistance, plus develop the instructions for using eligible equipment.
Eligible applicants can include:
- State and local government entities
- Federally-recognized tribes
- Nonprofit organization
- For-profit businesses
Go to https://www.grants.gov/custom/printSynopsisDetails.jsp for the grant announcement or go to the Rural Health Information Hub and view their information on Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program Grants https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/funding/397.