WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe and U.S. Senator Susan Collins today announced that twelve Maine hospitals and schools will be receiving a combined $3,728,658 in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program as part of the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program.
In school settings, the funding will be used to employ web-based and interactive video conferencing to strengthen academic achievement and provide professional development activities for students and educators in partner with school districts.
The funding will be distributed as follows:
• The Greenville School Department in Greenville will receive $428,474
• MSAD #59 in Madison will receive $465,848
• MSAD #21 in Dixfield will receive $378,661
• MSAD #48 in Newport will receive $399,817
• Southern Aroostook Community School District #9 in Dyer Brook will receive $393,761
• MSAD #54 in Skowhegan will receive $486,410
• MSAD #27 in Fort Kent will receive $267,341
In medical settings, the funding will be used to implement systems that utilize telemedicine technology to connect off-site care specialists to patients and hospitals.
The funding will be distributed as follows:
• Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems in Brewer will receive $148,519
• Maine General Medical Center in Augusta will receive $211,476
• HealthReach HomeCare & Hospice in Waterville will receive $176,570
• Penobscot Bay Medical Center in Rockport will receive $183,003
• Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor will receive $188,778
“This funding is wonderful news,” noted Senators Snowe and Collins in a joint statement. “By using this teleconference technology, Mainers will greatly benefit by being closer to top-flight medical specialists as well as educational experts. We are pleased to announce this funding.”
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