Department Also Invests $1.1 Million to Improve Access to Telemedicine, Distance Learning in Rural Florida
GAINESVILLE, Fla., Oct. 22, 2021 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a significant expansion of access to high-speed internet, health care and educational services for millions of rural Americans nationwide. Today’s announcement continues to move forward President Biden’s Build Back Better Agenda by prioritizing economic growth in rural America and investing in the backbone of our country – the middle class.
“Telemedicine and distance learning are becoming more and more important to our rural communities and residents,” said Acting State Director Jason Brower for Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands. “USDA has been committed to expanding access to broadband to our rural residents, and in conjunction with that, these distance learning and telemedicine grants will provide funding to make sure our rural communities have access to quality healthcare and educational opportunities of which they may not otherwise have access.”
Background: ReConnect Program
Secretary Vilsack spoke about USDA’s commitment to helping rural Americans get improved access to broadband and health care during a visit to the newly renovated emergency department at Hammond Henry Hospital. The project was financed in part by a USDA loan.
He announced that on November 24 USDA will begin accepting applications for up to $1.15 billion in loans and grants to expand the availability of broadband in rural areas. USDA is making the funding available through the ReConnect Program.
To be eligible for ReConnect Program funding, an applicant must commit to building facilities capable of providing broadband service at speeds of 100 Mbps (download and upload) to every location in its proposed service area. In making funding decisions USDA will prioritize projects that will serve low density rural areas with locations lacking internet access services at speeds of at least 25 Mbps (upload) and 3 Mbps (download). In making funding decisions, the USDA will also consider, among other things, the economic needs of the community to be served; the extent which a provider will offer affordable service options; a project’s commitment to strong labor standards; and whether a project is serving tribal lands or is submitted by a local government, Tribal Government, non-profit or cooperative.
USDA has simplified the application process and has expanded the program significantly. For example, ReConnect will now offer 100 percent grants for certain projects on tribal lands and in socially vulnerable communities.
The Department plans to make available up to $200 million in ReConnect Program loans, up to $250 million in loan/grant combinations, up to $350 million in grants with a 25 percent matching requirement, and up to $350 million in grants with no matching requirement for projects in tribal and socially vulnerable communities.
Background: Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants
Vilsack also announced today a $50 million investment in 105 rural distance learning and telemedicine projects in 37 states and Puerto Rico. These awards are being funded through USDA’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine program. This program helps fund distance learning and telemedicine services in rural areas to increase access to education, training and health care resources that are otherwise limited or unavailable.
The two recipients receiving Distance Learning and Telemedicine funding in rural Florida are:
- Ocala Behavioral Health, LLC will use $160,611 to fund the Tele-Behavioral Health Project of North Central Florida (Tele-NCF). The Tele-NCF Project will help The Vines Hospital to develop a telemedicine network of six rural communities in Florida to better serve the healthcare needs of approximately 40,000 residents. The network will enable The Vines Hospital to maximize scarce health care resources available in this rural service region to deliver high quality mental/behavioral health and substance/opioid use disorder treatment.
- Corizon Health, Inc. will use $967,356 to facilitate the delivery of health services including substance abuse treatment and mental health treatment to prison inmate populations in Florida, Idaho, Maryland, Missouri, and Wyoming. An estimated 90,000 incarcerated individuals will be provided with point-of-care behavioral health services through video conferencing by psychiatric professionals and medical professionals at end-user sites.
For additional information on the upcoming ReConnect Program funding opportunity, see the Oct. 22, 2021, Federal Register. Once the application window opens, applications must be submitted through USDA Rural Development’s online application system on the ReConnect webpage. All required materials for completing an application are included in the online system.
To learn more about ReConnect Program eligibility, technical assistance and recent announcements, visit www.usda.gov/reconnect.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans 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, Tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
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