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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Infrastructure

Mar 14, 2024 - Funding for rural Federally Qualified Health Centers in Tennessee and across the South has been awarded for installing solar panels and battery systems. The mini grid systems will allow the facilities to continue offering critical services during power outages.
Source: WPLN, NPR
Mar 12, 2024 - Announces $58 million in funding for tribal communities in Nevada, South Dakota, and Oklahoma. Funding will improve water infrastructure and high-speed internet.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Mar 2, 2024 - Highlights a rural California town introducing a shade equity master plan to address the dangers of extreme heat. Discusses rural specific issues such as limited infrastructure and unsafe homes that make heat burden unequally experienced. Notes the disparate impact felt by farmworkers in this agriculture-heavy region.
Source: AP News
Feb 26, 2024 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service (RUS) extending the application period for the Rural eConnectivity (ReConnect) Program for fiscal year 2024. RUS will begin to accept applications on March 22, 2024. Applications are due by May 21, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 22, 2024 - Highlights a new research project aiming to improve wastewater monitoring in rural Virginia. Discusses the challenges with wastewater monitoring for diseases in rural places.
Source: Digital Journal
Feb 21, 2024 - Announces new federal funding for rural projects related to broadband internet, clean water, infrastructure, and economic growth.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Feb 21, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service (RUS) will begin to accept applications for the Rural eConnectivity (ReConnect) Program for fiscal year 2024 on March 22, 2024. The ReConnect Program provides loans and grants to facilitate broadband deployment in rural areas. Applications that will assist rural communities to recover economically, ensure rural residents have equitable access to Rural Development programs and benefit from Rural Development funded projects, and reduce climate pollution and increase resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural communities are encouraged. Applications are due by April 22, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 14, 2024 - Outlines the Investing in America tour which highlights investment in infrastructure, transportation, closing the digital divide, and more. Includes the kick off of a new Investing in Rural America Event Series.
Source: The White House
Feb 13, 2024 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), Rural Housing Service (RHS), and Rural Utilities Service (RUS) providing application requirements for funding reserved under the Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) priority program. USDA is implementing SECD in fiscal year 2024 through reserving funds from the covered program and is giving priority to projects assisting rural communities recover economically; ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to USDA-Rural Development programs and benefits from Rural Development funded projects; and reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural communities. This notice is being issued prior to passage of a final appropriations act for fiscal year 2024 and includes estimated funding amounts.
Source: Federal Register