USDA Rural Development Announces Grant Opportunity

By Amy Mund

December 24, 2004

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development announced the application window for the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program. The program is specifically designed to provide access to education, training, and health care resources for residents in rural America. Grants will be awarded competitively and the application deadline is February 1, 2005.

Under the Bush Administration, Colorado has received five Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants totaling over $1.8 million. "The DLT program is an excellent example of critical information technology services reaching rural Coloradoans. The most successful applicants are those who apply by building partnerships and demonstrate how the funding enhances rural healthcare or educational needs," said Gigi Dennis, State Director, USDA Rural Development.

Eligible applicants include rural schools, colleges, universities, non-profit hospitals, libraries, health care clinics, Indian tribes or tribal organizations, consortiums or partnerships, other incorporated organizations and related organizations which operate rural educational or health care facilities. Additionally, applicants must be in unincorporated rural areas, cities, and/or towns with populations of less than 10,000.

Funds can be used for initial capital and hardware costs to enhance telecommunication capabilities for either public education or medical purposes. Applicants must also demonstrate a matching contribution, in cash or in kind. Matching contributions must be at least 15% of the total amount of funding requested. The maximum grant amount available for Fiscal Year 2005 will be $500,000 and the minimum grant amount will be $50,000.

The funding notice is being issued prior to the passage of the final appropriations bill to allow applicants sufficient time to submit proposals. An announcement of funding levels will be published once an appropriations bill providing funding for DLT Grants has been enacted. Completed applications should be mailed to USDA, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Room 2845, STOP 1550, Washington, DC, 20250-1550. Additional application guides and materials regarding the DLT Program are available on the USDA Rural Development website at http://www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/dlt/dlt.htm or call Teri Nilson Baird, General Field Representative at 303-646-5856, teri.baird@usda.gov.

USDA Rural Development programs increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents. Rural Development provides investment and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. Further information on rural programs can be found at any of Colorado’s eight local USDA Rural Development offices or by visiting our web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov;/co/index.html.