Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program | RUS 22 01 DLT

Opportunity Information: Apply for RUS 22 01 DLT

The Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program is a U.S. Department of Agriculture initiative run through the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) that provides grant funding to help rural communities expand or improve distance learning and telemedicine services. Authorized under 7 U.S.C. 950aaa and implemented through regulations at 7 CFR part 1734, the program is designed to strengthen rural access to education, job training, and health care by paying for telecommunications-enabled technology and related equipment. In practical terms, DLT grants are meant to help rural schools, colleges, clinics, and community facilities connect people to instructors, specialists, and resources that would otherwise be hard to reach because of distance, limited local capacity, or a shortage of providers.

The funding supports equipment and advanced technologies that make remote instruction and remote clinical services possible or better, including information technology and audio/video tools used by students, teachers, medical professionals, and rural residents. The underlying goal is to reduce the service gap between rural and non-rural areas by making high-quality learning and medical expertise available without requiring long travel times or relying on limited local offerings. The opportunity is categorized across several public-benefit areas, including education, health, community and regional development, and business and commerce, reflecting the program's broad impact on rural quality of life and economic resilience.

This specific grant window is a targeted, invitation-only competition tied to Community Project Funding (CPF) included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022. The Act identified seven named entities that are eligible to apply under this particular notice, and only those seven invited applicants will be considered for awards in this round. Even though the broader DLT program normally lists many types of eligible applicants (such as state and local governments, school districts, higher education institutions, tribal governments, nonprofits, and for-profit entities), this CPF-based announcement restricts eligibility strictly to the seven entities identified by name in the law. Applicants who are not one of those named entities are not eligible for this window and are advised not to apply. USDA indicates that additional application window(s) may be offered in the future that would be open to all eligible entities under the standard DLT program rules.

From a funding and administrative standpoint, this opportunity is listed as a grant with an award ceiling of $1,000,000 and an expected total of seven awards, aligning with the seven invited entities. The opportunity is cataloged under CFDA number 10.855. The posting date was April 29, 2022, and the original closing date was May 27, 2022, which sets the timeline that applied to this particular round of invited applications.

Invited applicants are expected to prepare their submissions using the FY 2022 DLT Grant Program Community Project Funding Application Guide and related program resources. The guide is available through the Grants.gov listing or by request via email at dltinfo@usda.gov. A key practical note in the announcement is that any costs incurred in developing the application are the applicant's responsibility, meaning applicants should plan proposal-development work with the understanding that those expenses are not reimbursed if an award is not made.

• The Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service in the business and commerce, community development, education, health, regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program" 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 Apr 29, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 27, 2022. (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 7 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 22 01 DLT

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