Georgia
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Distance Learning and Telemedicine 

Description:

The purpose of the Distance Learning and Telemedicine loan/grant program is to provide financial assistance to needy recipients to enhance learning and health care opportunities for rural residents through the use of telecommunications, computer networks, and related advanced technologies by student, teachers, medical professionals and rural residents.

Loan Purposes:

Funds can be used to acquire (by lease or purchase) eligible equipment, acquire instructional programming, and provide technical assistance and instructions for using eligible equipment, including related software. 

Who is Eligible:

Incorporated organizations, partnerships, Indian tribes, and tribal organizations, or other legal entities which operate or will operate a school, college, university, learning center, training facility, or other educational institutions. 

Loan/Grant Amount:

The maximum loan for FY '09 is $500,000. The applicant must furnish a minimum of 15 percent of the project costs (matching funds). The minimum size of an application request is $50,000.

Loan Maturity:

Useful life of the facilities (equipment) to be financed, not to exceed 10 years. 

Other Criteria:

Application guides, copies of the necessary forms and the DLT program regulations are available at:  http://www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/dlt/dlt.htm 

Any interested applicant should contact the Telecommunications General Field Representative (GFR) for the State of Georgia.  The contact for Georgia is:

Andrew Hayes
50 Jim Alexander Rd.
McDonough, GA  30253
770-914-8643
andrew.hayes@wdc.usda.gov

Funding Allocation for FY '09:

Applications for grants are due no later than March 24, 2009.

Funds are not allocated to the States. 

The 2009 National Allocation is:

$30 million in grants.

Where Do You Apply: 

All applicants must file an original and two copies of the completed application to the following address: 

Telecommunications Program 
U.S. Department of Agriculture 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW 
STOP 1550, Room 2845
Washington, DC 20250-1550 
ATTN:  Director, Advanced Services Division

Electronic submissions may be submitted through Grants.gov

Late or incomplete applications are not eligible for FY 09 grant funding.

FY '08 Projects

Darton College                                             $90,185
Darton College EMS                                    $66,635
Darton College Nursing                                $74,070
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta                    $231,621
GA Partnership for Telehealth                       $496,355
Warren County BOE (ETTC Consortium)    $218,770

Last Updated : February 24, 2009