Danville Community College and Lincoln Land Community College Receive USDA Rural Development Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants in 2024; FY '25 Funding Announced for New Applicants

[January 08, 2025]    Champaign, IL – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Illinois State Director Pam Monetti today invited grant applications to improve access to remote education and health care in rural and Tribal communities.

USDA is making approximately $40 million in funding available under the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program.

“I am thrilled to announce the continued funding of this program” says Monetti. “The DLT program helps ensure students and rural communities have access not only to high quality remote education but mental health and telemedicine services that are essential to a community’s health and well-being.”

IL projects from FY 2024:

Sangamon County: Lincoln Land Community College received a $448K investment to purchase one hub site and eight other end-user sites with distance learning technology across Sangamon, Morgan, Montgomery, Menard, and Christian counties. Instructors at the Lincoln Land Community College will deliver physical sciences instruction at outreach centers, as well as Spanish and Biology at four high schools to increase dual credit offerings.

Vermilion County: Danville Area Community College received a $468K investment to purchase and install “people plus content” dedicated classrooms, mobile classrooms, and small setting huddle rooms. Instructors at these locations will deliver dual credit classes, shared high school courses and other educational opportunities, as well as mental health and substance abuse prevention education and counseling; professional development for teachers, counselors and school staff; and other beneficial services for schools and the community. This project will provide these opportunities to five locations benefiting 1,537 students and rural residents.

This program funds distance learning and telemedicine equipment, like audio and video equipment. These funds will help digitally connect people to education, training and health care resources that are otherwise unavailable or limited in remote parts of the country.

For example, DLT funding expands opportunities for:

Students to participate in classes that may be in locations too far to access in person.

Teachers to provide their expertise, trainings and educational services to students across the country.
Patients to seek specialized care and treatment from medical professionals without needing to leave their homes or communities.

Eligible applicants include state and local governmental entities, federally recognized Tribes, nonprofits and for-profit businesses.

USDA is particularly interested in applications that will:

Help rural communities recover economically through more and better market opportunities and through improved infrastructure.

Ensure all rural residents have equitable access to Rural Development (RD) programs and benefit from RD-funded projects.

Reduce climate pollution and increase resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural communities.

Applications must be submitted electronically through grants.gov no later than March 6, 2025. Additional program information is available online and via page 589 of the Jan. 6, 2025, Federal Register.

[USDA Rurual Development Illinois]