Have you heard concerning the USDA’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) program? In 2023 the U.S. Congress appropriated $60 million to DLT to be used by organizations that present training and healthcare providers to communities in rural areas. According to the USDA, this funding is supplied to assist rural communities join with one another and past as they search to beat the impacts of their distant places and low populations.
To show you how to be taught extra concerning the USDA’s DLT program, you’re invited to look at our current webinar on Empowering Rural Communities by way of Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) the place we discover the alternatives DLT holds on your group.
“I wrote my first DLT application in 1998 to build distance learning capabilities in the rural area where I live. In the early 2000s, our family was directly impacted by the life-saving power of telemedicine made possible by DLT. It is a program that is very near and dear to my heart.”
—Jen Messinger, Public Funding Advisor
How the DLT program works for you
DLT enhances training providers by:
- Creating entry to twin enrollment or early school curriculum.
- Giving college or school educators the power to achieve their college students at distant campuses.
- Allowing college districts to collaborate with one another, share instructors, and improve pupil entry to studying alternatives.
DLT enhances healthcare providers in rural areas by:
- Connecting rural hospitals to urbanized specialists in occasions of disaster.
- Providing sufferers entry to specialists from their location.
- Enhancing the power for healthcare professionals to entry coaching and training particular to their job.
- Ensuring distant sufferers have entry to high quality care.
How have you learnt when you’re venture is an efficient match for DLT?
If you’ve got an upcoming venture, there are two key questions you may ask to see if the DLT program could be the appropriate 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. Additionally, the USDA assigns particular issues to geographies. Each 12 months, the particular issues change, however prior to now Tribal lands, Enterprise Zones, STEM, and Opioid Crisis Response have been areas of particular consideration. The USDA hasn’t printed 2024 steerage but. When they do, you ought to be conscious that it’s going to embody particulars on particular issues for 2024.
In common, there are some things you are able to do to arrange on your journey, together with:
- Determine in case your venture goes to deal with training or healthcare (the USDA requires candidates to pick out a major space of focus).
- Talk to your companions concerning the disparities they’re dealing with when delivering (or receiving) providers in rural areas.
- Review the DLT steerage and workbook to delegate motion gadgets together with your crew.
- Identify the communities the place you must present providers.
- Determine what know-how you must make the venture and go for it.
Funding quantity and timing
The DLT funds initiatives between $50,000 and $1,000,000. Applicants want to offer a 15% match. And it’s by no means too early to begin getting 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 initiatives, and monitor this system for upcoming bulletins. Although, as of right now’s date, this system is closed it would have an software window in 2024.
Remember, we’re right here to assist!
We urge you to reap the benefits of our crew’s public funding consultants so you may maximize your alternatives. The Cisco Public Funding Office has years of expertise in consulting with organizations that have to pursue grants for know-how. It’s straightforward to attach with us and we’ll be glad to point out you ways we are able to help with DLT and different grants. And remember to watch Empowering Rural Communities by way of Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) right now!
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