Have you ever heard concerning the USDA’s Distance Studying and Telemedicine (DLT) program? In 2023 the U.S. Congress appropriated $60 million to DLT to be used by organizations that present schooling and healthcare companies to communities in rural areas. In keeping with the USDA, this funding is offered to assist rural communities join with one another and past as they search to beat the impacts of their distant places and low populations.
That will help you be taught extra concerning the USDA’s DLT program, you’re invited to look at our current webinar on Empowering Rural Communities via Distance Studying and Telemedicine (DLT) the place we discover the alternatives DLT holds in your group.
“I wrote my first DLT software in 1998 to construct distance studying capabilities within the rural space the place I stay. Within the early 2000s, our household was straight impacted by the life-saving energy of telemedicine made attainable by DLT. It’s a program that could be very close to and expensive to my coronary heart.”
—Jen Messinger, Public Funding Advisor
How the DLT program works for you
DLT enhances schooling companies by:
- Creating entry to twin enrollment or early faculty curriculum.
- Giving college or faculty educators the flexibility to succeed in their college students at distant campuses.
- Permitting faculty districts to collaborate with one another, share instructors, and enhance scholar entry to studying alternatives.
DLT enhances healthcare companies in rural areas by:
- Connecting rural hospitals to urbanized specialists in occasions of disaster.
- Offering sufferers entry to specialists from their location.
- Enhancing the flexibility for healthcare professionals to entry coaching and schooling particular to their job.
- Guaranteeing distant sufferers have entry to high quality care.
How have you learnt if you happen to’re venture is an efficient match for DLT?
If in case you have an upcoming venture, there are two key questions you may ask to see if the DLT program may be the precise alternative for you:
- First, is the venture in a rural space?
- Second, is there a excessive degree of poverty?
DLT makes use of census knowledge to evaluate rurality and poverty to make sure venture advantages are going to rural areas. Moreover, the USDA assigns particular issues to geographies. Annually, the particular issues change, however previously Tribal lands, Enterprise Zones, STEM, and Opioid Disaster Response have been areas of particular consideration. The USDA hasn’t printed 2024 steering but. Once they do, you have to be conscious that it’s going to embody particulars on particular issues for 2024.
Generally, there are some things you are able to do to arrange in your journey, together with:
- Decide in case your venture goes to concentrate on schooling or healthcare (the USDA requires candidates to pick a main space of focus).
- Speak to your companions concerning the disparities they’re dealing with when delivering (or receiving) companies in rural areas.
- Overview the DLT steering and workbook to delegate motion objects together with your group.
- Determine the communities the place you could present companies.
- Decide what expertise you could make the venture and go for it.
Funding quantity and timing
The DLT funds tasks between $50,000 and $1,000,000. Candidates want to supply a 15% match. And it’s by no means too early to begin making ready. In reality, now could be the time to go to the USDA DLT website to be taught concerning the software course of, see previous funded tasks, and monitor this system for upcoming bulletins. Though, as of right now’s date, this system is closed it would have an software window in 2024.
Bear in mind, we’re right here to assist!
We urge you to reap the benefits of our group’s public funding consultants so you may maximize your alternatives. The Cisco Public Funding Workplace has years of expertise in consulting with organizations that have to pursue grants for expertise. It’s straightforward to attach with us and we’ll be glad to indicate you the way we are able to assist with DLT and different grants. And make sure you watch Empowering Rural Communities via Distance Studying and Telemedicine (DLT) right now!
Extra sources
Share: