Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants | RUS 24 01 DLT

Opportunity Information: Apply for RUS 24 01 DLT

The Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grants opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RUS 24 01 DLT) is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service. It is authorized under 7 U.S.C. 950aaa and governed by the program regulation at 7 CFR part 1734. The core purpose is to help rural communities gain or improve access to distance learning and telemedicine by funding modern, telecommunications-enabled technologies. In practical terms, the program is meant to reduce the gap rural areas face when education, training, and health care services are limited, too far away, or not available at all.

DLT grant funds are intended to support technology and equipment that make remote instruction and remote clinical services possible. The opportunity emphasizes the use of telecommunications-enabled information systems along with audio and video equipment and other advanced technologies that allow people in rural areas to connect with teachers, trainers, medical specialists, and service providers. The beneficiaries described in the notice include students and teachers (for education and workforce-related training), medical professionals (to extend clinical reach and collaboration), and rural residents more broadly (to access services that might otherwise be out of reach). The overall goal is not simply buying hardware, but enabling real service delivery: classes that can be attended from a rural school or community site, and medical consultations or related health services delivered through telemedicine connections.

A wide range of organizations can apply. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled colleges and universities; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in those categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The breadth of eligibility reflects the program's rural service focus, since rural connectivity projects are often led by public entities, schools, libraries, hospitals and clinics, nonprofits, or local and regional partners that can operate and maintain distance learning or telemedicine systems.

For FY 2024, the posted award ceiling is $1,000,000 per award, and the opportunity anticipates making about 115 awards. The application deadline listed in the opportunity is April 29, 2024. Applicants are expected to follow the USDA's FY 2024 DLT Grant Program Application Guide and related program resources, which are provided through the Rural Development website at https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/distance-learning-telemedicine-grants. The notice also makes clear that any costs incurred to develop and prepare an application are the applicant's responsibility, meaning there is no reimbursement for proposal development expenses even if the project is not selected.

In short, this grant program is designed to strengthen rural access to education and health care by paying for the technology backbone and equipment needed to deliver instruction and medical services over distance. It targets real-world rural constraints and aims to help institutions and communities use telecommunications and modern audio/video tools to make essential services available where they are currently unavailable or limited.

• The Rural Utilities Service in the business and commerce, community development, education, employment, labor and training, health, iij, regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.855.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-02-29.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-04-29. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 115 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.

Apply for RUS 24 01 DLT

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: