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 training and healthcare companies to communities in rural areas. In accordance 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 study extra concerning the USDA’s DLT program, you’re invited to observe our latest webinar on Empowering Rural Communities via Distance Studying and Telemedicine (DLT) the place we discover the alternatives DLT holds on your group.
“I wrote my first DLT utility in 1998 to construct distance studying capabilities within the rural space the place I dwell. Within the early 2000s, our household was immediately impacted by the life-saving energy of telemedicine made potential by DLT. It’s a program that may be very close to and pricey to my coronary heart.”
—Jen Messinger, Public Funding Advisor
How the DLT program works for you
DLT enhances training companies by:
Creating entry to twin enrollment or early faculty curriculum.
Giving college or faculty educators the power to succeed in their college students at distant campuses.
Permitting faculty districts to collaborate with one another, share instructors, and improve pupil 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 power for healthcare professionals to entry coaching and training particular to their job.
Making certain distant sufferers have entry to high quality care.
How are you aware for those who’re mission is an effective match for DLT?
When you’ve got an upcoming mission, there are two key questions you’ll be able to ask to see if the DLT program is perhaps the fitting alternative for you:
First, is the mission in a rural space?
Second, is there a excessive degree of poverty?
DLT makes use of census information to evaluate rurality and poverty to make sure mission advantages are going to rural areas. Moreover, the USDA assigns particular concerns to geographies. Annually, the particular concerns change, however up to now Tribal lands, Enterprise Zones, STEM, and Opioid Disaster Response have been areas of particular consideration. The USDA hasn’t printed 2024 steerage but. After they do, you need to be conscious that it’ll embrace particulars on particular concerns for 2024.
Basically, there are some things you are able to do to arrange on your journey, together with:
Decide in case your mission goes to give attention to training or healthcare (the USDA requires candidates to pick a main space of focus).
Discuss to your companions concerning the disparities they’re going through when delivering (or receiving) companies in rural areas.
Overview the DLT steerage and workbook to delegate motion objects together with your workforce.
Establish the communities the place you’ll want to present companies.
Decide what know-how you’ll want to make the mission 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 actual fact, now could be the time to go to the USDA DLT web site to study concerning the utility course of, see previous funded tasks, and monitor this system for upcoming bulletins. Though, as of as we speak’s date, this system is closed it’ll have an utility window in 2024.
Bear in mind, we’re right here to assist!
We urge you to reap the benefits of our workforce’s public funding consultants so you’ll be able to maximize your alternatives. The Cisco Public Funding Workplace has years of expertise in consulting with organizations that have to pursue grants for know-how. It’s simple to attach with us and we’ll be glad to indicate you ways we are able to help with DLT and different grants. And you’ll want to watch Empowering Rural Communities via Distance Studying and Telemedicine (DLT) as we speak!
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