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Trump Administration Invests More Than $1.6 Million in Distance Learning and Telemedicine Infrastructure in Rural New York

Name
Christopher Stewart
City
Syracuse
Release Date

NY State Director for USDA Rural Development Richard Mayfield today announced four projects in rural New York will be receiving more than $1.6 million in investments. This is part of a national announcement where U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $72 million in grants to help rural residents gain access to health care and educational opportunities. These investments will benefit more than 12 million rural residents.

“Increasing access to telemedicine and distance learning is critical to building healthier and more resilient rural communities,” said State Director Richard Mayfield. “Paired with our monumental effort to expand high-speed broadband access in rural America, these investments will help rural health care centers and education institutions reach more rural residents with essential services and opportunities. Under the leadership of President Trump, USDA is committed to being a strong partner to rural communities because when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”

Background:

USDA is funding 116 projects through the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) grant program. The program helps health care and education institutions buy the equipment and software necessary to deploy distance-learning and telemedicine services to rural residents.

Investments in New York included:

  • Otsego Northern Catskills BOCES                         This Rural Development investment of $683,692 in grant funding will be used to help Otsego Northern Catskills Board of Cooperative Educational Services (ONC BOCES) schools provide access to Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) courses that include a schedule of rigorous curriculum for public school students applying to college and/or preparing to enter the workforce. A secondary benefit will be remote training in opioid addiction and overdose prevention for community members, school staff, and emergency personnel. Distance learning will allow students in Delaware, Otsego, Sullivan, Schoharie, Madison, and Chenango rural counties in New York to connect with instructors, students, scientists and other subject matter experts and institutions around the globe, including museums and zoos. Through this program, students may now be more aware of the careers that exist in the STEM field. Additionally, those who complete advanced STEM or college-level courses may increase their chances of being accepted into their preferred colleges while those who are directly entering the workforce may be better prepared to have a higher-wage job.

  • Cattaraugus-Allegany-Erie Wyoming BOCES     This Rural Development investment of $486,510 in grant funding will be used to increase distance learning at Cattaraugus-Allegany-Erie-Wyoming Board of Cooperative Educational Services (CA BOCES) partner school districts by implementing the Improving Math Scores Through Distance Learning (IMSTDL) program. The IMSTDL program will provide students with additional math learning opportunities through distance learning and increase access to professional development for teachers. The program outcomes will be student mastery of math using qualified teachers and enhancement to the delivery of instruction through distance learning.  IMSTDL will lead to higher student retention, improved educational success, increased graduation rates and more students seeking postsecondary education that allows them to successfully transition to adulthood. This program will connect 7,135 students and their teachers at 17 different rural school sites from 16 different districts.

  • Community Health Center of the North Country             This Rural Development investment of $223,144 in grant funding will be used to help Community Health Center of North Country provide telemedicine services at four rural clinics and distance learning services at three Individualized Residential Alternatives (IRA's) locations.  The project sites are located across St. Lawrence and Franklin counties in New York.  The telemedicine services that will be available under this project are substance use disorder treatments and counseling services. At the IRA's, the project will provide training to people with developmental disabilities.

  • Southern Tier Health Care System                         This Rural Development investment of $218,557 in granting will be used to help fund the Southern Tier Health Care System Emergency SUD/OUD Response project, which will provide education and training for opioid and substance abuse services in rural New York. The new project, which will consist of 15 sites, will increase access to a multi-site network with access to even greater system supports for synchronous training. The project goal is to reduce the human loss of life related to the opioid overdose epidemic, and improve emergency response, training and education to our rural southern tier region. The equipment is live-feed instructor-led, multidisciplinary distance technology (live tele-video, audio, and recording) at the Hub.

To learn more about investment resources for rural areas, interested parties should contact their USDA Rural Development state office. USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.