On April 5th, the Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service (RUS) released a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for a new round of Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grants. The DLT Program provides financial assistance to enable and improve DLT services in rural areas. Funding supports the use of telecommunications-enabled information, audio and video equipment, and related advanced technologies by students, teachers, medical professionals, and rural residents. These grants support increasing rural access to education, training, and health care resources that are otherwise unavailable or limited in scope.
Approximately $44.5 million in total funding is available through this FOA to eligible applicants, including $5.3 million in funding that was not appropriated during fiscal year 2020. Applicants are encouraged to consider projects that will promote equity and economic opportunity in rural America, specifically those that advance the following priorities:
- Containing the COVID-19 pandemic;
- Ensuring racial equity;
- Rebuilding the rural economy; and
- Addressing the climate crisis.
SPG’s summary is available here. The full FOA is available here, and RUS’s application guidance can be found here. Applications are due on June 4th.