Temporarily ClosedNot Currently Accepting ApplicationsFederal

Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants.

DLT grants help rural education and health-care providers use telecommunications equipment and systems to connect remote communities with instruction and medical services.

Offered byUSDA Rural Utilities Serviceverified 2026-07-10

Overview

What it does.

Chester is within the program's 20,000-person rural scale, but the project must connect qualifying education or health-care sites and score under the current notice. USDA is not accepting applications as of July 10, 2026 due to funding constraints.

Best for: Schools, colleges, health providers, nonprofits, or consortia building a multi-site rural distance-learning or telemedicine network.

Eligibility

Who and what may qualify.

Eligible applicants

  • State and local governmental organizations
  • Federally recognized tribes
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Incorporated for-profit businesses
  • Consortia providing education or health care by telecommunications

Applicants excluded by the source

  • Projects not primarily serving eligible rural education or health-care purposes

Eligible uses

  • Interactive audio and video equipment
  • Computer hardware, software, and network components
  • Limited broadband facilities
  • Instructional programming
  • Limited technical assistance and equipment-use training

Uses excluded by the source

  • General-purpose broadband deployment outside program limits
  • Costs excluded by the current notice or regulations

Application

How to start.

  1. Form a project team of eligible education or health-care sites
  2. Confirm rurality, hub/end-user structure, equipment, and match eligibility
  3. Monitor the program page and apply through Grants.gov when a new window opens

Timing: USDA states it is not currently accepting applications due to funding constraints.

Planning notes

Limits to account for.

  • No application window is currently open
  • Program is limited to distance-learning and telemedicine purposes
  • Rurality, site configuration, scoring, and nonfederal match requirements apply

May complement local facilities or broadband resources, but the same equipment and scope cannot receive duplicate federal payment.

Evidence

Official sources.