USDA Grants

USDA Grants

The Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program (aka DLT or RUS Grant)

The Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) has been published and the grant is due on August 12, 2013. The Grant Application Guide and Toolkit (which includes the needed forms) for this year’s competition can be found at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UTP_DLTResources.html

To be eligible for a grant, your organization must:

• Be legally organized as an incorporated organization or partnership; an Indian tribe or tribal organization; a state or local unit of government; a consortium; or other legal entity, including a private corporation organized on a for profit or not-for profit basis with the legal capacity to contract with the United States Government.
• Either operate a rural community facility directly, or deliver distance learning or telemedicine services to another organization that operates a rural community facility.
• Currently deliver or propose to deliver distance learning or telemedicine services for the term of the grant. Competitive proposals demonstrate an ability to sustain a project beyond the three-year term of the grant.

To receive a grant, the purposes must meet the grant definition of distance learning and/or telemedicine. The essential feature that makes a system eligible for funding under the grant program is live-real-time video connections between teacher and student or between doctor and patient. The USDA considers this real-time connection to be the essential feature that defines distance learning or telemedicine.

We, as grant advocates have a lot of experience with the RUS DLT Grant and have better than a 95% success rate with this grant. We can help you as little or as much as you need, partnering with you throughout the entire application process to ensure a successful outcome. We have many tools available to support you, making sure you have the most competitive application possible.