Rural Development Invests $348 thousand to assist Nash County Community College reach rural students
ROCKY MOUNT, N.C., November 30, 2023 – State Director Reginald Speight and members of North Carolina Rural Development Team announced a USDA Distance Learning Telemedicine Grant with the Nash Community College today.
Rural Development is investing $348 thousand through a USDA Distance Learning Telemedicine Grant to give Nash Community College instructors the ability to deliver interactive, immersive distance learning experiences to rural students in real-time, supporting them in the attainment of college credit while still enrolled in high school, propelling post-secondary education courses benefitting 400 students.
“North Carolina residents are already receiving a top-notch education, there is no question in that,” said Speight. “The challenge for our rural residents is gaining access to advanced level education. This grant will put technology in place to allow high school students who are miles away from Nash Community College to have access, in real time, to college classes. This is laying the groundwork for our future leaders.”
This will done through with high-quality video-conferencing equipment and 3-D interactive educational solutions.
"All of us at Nash Community College were very happy to hear that our USDA-RD grant application was successful. The funds will assist us in creating an even closer bond with Nash County Public Schools," said Dr. Lew K. Hunnicutt, president of NCC. "Dedicated remote classrooms at Southern Nash High School will allow the college to serve even more students with coursework that will prepare them to transfer to a university or to move directly into the local workforce. We are deeply appreciative to the United States Department of Agriculture - Rural Division for funding this important project."
Background
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. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, promoting competition and 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.
###