USDA Awards $53.7M for Rural Tech-based Economic Development

Within the last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a slew of awards – 128 in all – for rural tech-based economic development initiatives. Collectively, the awards total $53.7 million, including:

* 84 Distance Learning and Telemedicine grants for a total of $32.4 million, providing greater educational opportunities and medical service to rural citizens in 41 states. The education projects will help 556 schools provide students with educational tools to better equip them for the global digital economy. Additionally, rural residents will have access to better, faster and more modern health care through 190 medical service facilities.

Idaho

Idaho State University (Media/Distance Learning Center) $403,500.00

Lemhi County Economic Development Corporation $82,866.00

Montana

Benefis Healthcare Foundation $404,086.00

Oregon

Rogue Community College District $237,137.00

Sacred Heart Medical Center Foundation (PHOR) $500,000.00

Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital $233,548.00

Washington

Big Bend Community College $500,000.00

Community Choice Healthcare Network $414,847.00

Wellpinit School District $250,000.00

Wyoming

Rehabilitation Enterprises of North Eastern Wyoming (RENEW) $79,600.00

* 34 broadband community grants across 20 states totaling $11.3 million. The grants are expected to enable more residents to access the Internet. Communities selected do not have access to broadband connectivity for the essential services of police and fire protection, hospitals, libraries and schools. In return for receiving a grant, the communities will provide residents with computer and Internet access. The grant program supplements USDA Rural Development’s http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ standard high-speed telecommunications loan program. And,

* $10 million in grants to establish agricultural innovation centers in 10 states: Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota and Pennsylvania. The centers are designed to assist rural businesses, farmers and ranchers in developing value-added businesses through greater utilization of production agriculture commodities.

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rd/newsroom/2003/2003dltgrants.html

USDA Rural Development’s mission is to deliver programs in a way that will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents. Individual listings of the awards detailed above are available at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.