By Andi Anderson
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced $1,440,321 in Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) grants to benefit rural communities in Michigan’s Thumb and central regions. These grants aim to enhance educational opportunities and healthcare access for students and residents in remote areas.
Valarie Handy, USDA Acting State Director for Michigan, emphasized the importance of these investments. “Receiving medical care in your own community, without traveling long distances, can be life-saving,” Handy stated.
Caro Community Schools in Tuscola County will receive $848,462 to establish two hub sites and six end-user sites across Clare, Isabella, Tuscola, and St. Clair counties.
This grant will provide distance learning equipment, enabling instructors to deliver business industry tours, virtual field trips, dual enrollment programs, and entrepreneurship workshops to benefit 1,479 students in these regions.
McKenzie Memorial Hospital in Sanilac County has been awarded $591,859 to equip 11 hub sites and 12 end-user sites with telemedicine and video conferencing equipment.
This initiative will deliver specialized healthcare services, including cardiology, orthopedics, behavioral health, and critical care, to 2,724 rural residents. The project also includes clinician training and education, benefiting local healthcare professionals.
These grants illustrate USDA’s commitment to improving rural infrastructure under the Biden-Harris Administration. Efforts focus on fostering resilient local food systems, creating equitable access to nutritious food, investing in clean energy, and enhancing community health and education services.
By supporting distance learning and telemedicine, USDA is bridging gaps in education and healthcare for Michigan’s rural communities, ensuring better opportunities and quality of life for students, patients, and medical providers alike.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: Michigan, Government & Policy