Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants
Last verified by NonDilute: 2026-06-08. Official notice and agency instructions control.
If you operate a nonprofit, school, tribal government, or small business in rural America and want to deploy telehealth or distance learning infrastructure, this $50K–$750K grant directly funds your capital costs.
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What this is
The Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Program provides federal grants to improve rural access to education, training, and health care through technology infrastructure. Eligible applicants include tribal governments, state/local governments, nonprofits, small businesses, schools, and universities. Funded projects deploy telecommunications equipment, audio/video systems, and advanced technologies to connect rural students, teachers, medical professionals, and residents to otherwise unavailable services.
Who can apply
Applicants must be a tribal government, state/local government, nonprofit (501(c)(3) or non-501(c)(3)), school, university, small business, or special district. For-profit organizations that are not small businesses are also eligible. Projects must serve rural areas and improve distance learning or telemedicine access.
Eligible applicant types
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Special district governments
- State governments
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- County governments
- City or township governments
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- Independent school districts
- Small businesses
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
Full description — from the agency
Authorized by 7 U.S.C. 950aaa, the DLT Program provides financial assistance to enable and improve distance learning and telemedicine services in rural areas. DLT grant funds support the use of telecommunications-enabled information, audio and video equipment, and related advanced technologies by students, teachers, medical professionals, and rural residents. These grants are intended to increase rural access to education, training, and health care resources that are otherwise unavailable or limited in scope. The regulation for the DLT Program can be found at 7 CFR part 1734. All applicants should carefully review and prepare their applications according to instructions in the FY 2026 DLT Grant Program Application Guide (Application Guide) and program resources. This Application Guide will be made available here and on the program website at https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/distance-learning-telemedicine-grants. Expenses incurred in developing applications will be at the applicant’s own risk.
Topics: rural broadband · telemedicine infrastructure · distance learning · USDA grants · rural connectivity · educational technology
Public-source funding discovery only. This summary is generated from public agency data and may be incomplete or stale. NonDilute is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government agency. Official notices and agency instructions control. NonDilute does not determine eligibility, provide grant-writing advice, or guarantee funding.