11.19.15

Hoeven Announces More Than $740K in USDA Grants to Expand Distance Learning Across Rural North Dakota

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, who serves on the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee and Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development has approved three grants totaling $743,289 to expand distance learning opportunities through universities and public schools across rural North Dakota. The funds are made available through USDA’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine program, which helps connect rural communities to greater education and health care opportunities through investments in telecommunications technology. The details of the grants are as follows:

  • North Dakota University System – Two grants totaling $505,472 to purchase and expand access to video conferencing equipment and other technologies to improve distance learning offerings.
  • North Dakota Educational Technology Council– A $237,817 grant to upgrade distance learning equipment at 37 public school end-user sites, including three schools on Federal Indian Tribe Reservations.

“Innovations in telecommunications have opened many exciting new opportunities for our state’s rural residents in education, health care and commerce,” Hoeven said. “Today’s grants will help deploy this technology, improving the quality of life for many of our residents and helping to ensure prosperous and vibrant rural communities.” 

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