Policy & Funding
Distance Learning Grant to Award $44.5 Million in Funding
The United States Department of Agriculture is awarding grants
ranging from $50,000 to $1 million to organizations supporting
distance learning and telemedicine in rural communities. The deadline
for this competitive grant program is June 4.
The USDA Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grant Program (DLT) is
designed to serve communities of 20,000 residents or fewer. In
addition, the agency is encouraging applicants “to consider
projects that will promote equity and economic opportunity in rural
America, specifically those that advance the following key
priorities:
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Containing the COVID-19 pandemic;
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Ensuring racial equity;
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Rebuilding our rural economy; and
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Addressing the climate crisis.”
Funds are to be used for broadband, networking hardware,
computers/devices, AV equipment, software, instructional programming
and support related to installing and procuring the tools to support
distance learning and telemedicine. A 15% match is required.
Applications must be received by June 4. A PDF
fact sheet can be found here. Further details can be found at
rd.usda.gov.
More grants can be found here.
About the Author
David Nagel is editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Technology Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal and STEAM Universe. A 25-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art and business publications.
He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at or follow him on Twitter at @THEJournalDave (K-12) or @CampusTechDave (higher education).