In the June 21, 1996 Issue:

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Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grants Available
The Rural Utilities Service of the U. S. Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for the FY 1996 Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program. The program helps rural schools and health care providers invest in telecommunications and computer networks linked to educational and/or medical resources that might otherwise be unavailable. There is $7.5 million available for FY 1996 grants and loans. The maximum award amount is $350,000 and the minimum is $50,000.

Over the past three years (FY 1993-FY 1995), USDA funded 90 projects in 39 states. Those projects included helping approximately 230 rural schools gain access to teachers and libraries, training centers, vocational schools and other institutions located in metropolitan areas. Approximately 112 rural health care facilities were linked with other rural hospitals and major medical centers for clinical consultation, distance training of rural health care providers, and access to other medical expertise and library resources.

The grants fund up to 70% of the cost of acquiring and installing telecommunications hardware located in rural schools, hospitals and other eligible sites. It also funds other non-recurring costs of establishing a distance learning or telemedicine system, including training and acquiring software. Operating expenses, including salaries, are not eligible.

Eligible applicants include rural schools, libraries, hospitals, health care clinics and Indian tribes, nonprofit organizations, consortia, partnerships, or other incorporated organizations that operate educational or medical facilities in rural areas. Funds will not be provided to state or local governments; however, state supported institutions are eligible. The application is available electronically at http://www.usda.gov/rus/. Applications must be postmarked no later than August 5, 1996.

For more information, contact Barbara Eddy, Deputy Assistant Administrator, USDA, (202) 720-9549.

Sustainable Development Funding Available
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a new competitive grant program, the Sustainable Development Challenge Grant (SDCG) program. The goal of SDCG is to encourage community, business, and government to work cooperatively to develop flexible, locally-oriented approaches that link place-based environmental management with sustainable development and revitalization." The SDCG program hopes to challenge local communities "to invest in a sustainable future that links environmental protection and economic prosperity to provide equitable opportunities for health, safety and well-being."

The EPA views SDCG grants as a way for it to award competitive grants for seed funding "to leverage private and other public sector investment in communities to build partnerships that increase a community's long-term capacity to protect the environment through sustainable development."

Examples of possible proposals include:

These examples are only illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of any potential proposal.

Eligible applicants for the SDCG program include: 1) incorporated non-profit private agencies, institutions and organizations; and 2) public agencies, institutions and organizations. State agencies are encouraged to work with community groups to strengthen their proposals. Applicants will be competing for funding in two ranges in FY96: under $50,000 and between $50,001 and $100,000. Applicants may submit multiple proposals, but each specific proposal can only be submitted in one funding range.

The EPA is currently soliciting proposals for pilot projects in FY96 and is also asking for comments on the program design that can be incorporated in a full-scale program for FY97. Project pre-applications must be postmarked by August 1, 1996; comments on program design are due by August 30, 1996.

Pre-application kits are available upon request from EPA headquarters. Interested parties should contact Pamela A. Hurt, Office of Regional Operations and State/Local Relations, tel: 202/260-0422 or fax: 202/260-9365. Contact SSTI at 614/421-SSTI (7784) for a copy of the full Federal Register notice describing the program.

ATP Public Meeting: Tools for DNA Diagnostics
The Advanced Technology Program (ATP) of the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) has announced a public meeting to bring together all ATP awardees of the ATP Tools for DNA Diagnostics program "to present an overview of the non-proprietary aspects of their research and development activities." The goals of the meeting are to: "inform the DNA diagnostics community about activities at this stage of the focused program, promote cross-fertilization of concepts and efforts, promote strategic partnering across companies and other organizations, accelerate commercialization of emerging technologies, and promote networking." The meeting will be held September 9-10 at NIST headquarters in Gaithersburg, MD.

Since 1994, ATP has supported a focused initiative in Tools for DNA Diagnostics. The goal of this initiative has been "to develop cost-effective methods to determine, analyze, and store DNA sequences for a wide variety of diagnostic applications." Currently, the initiative has provided $106 million worth of ATP funding, includes 22 industrial projects, and has leveraged $99 million of industry matching funds committed over five years.

For more information about the meeting or to register, contact Tammie Grice at NIST, tel: 301-975-3883, fax: 301-948-2067, or email: tammie.grice@nist.gov

SSTI Transitions...
We welcome our first SSTI-Kauffman Interns: Cathleen McComas and Nakisha Fouch. Cathleen is a graduate student in public policy and management. Nakisha is pursuing her bachelor's degree in economics. Funding for the SSTI-Kauffman Intern Program has been provided by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation's Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership.

We are sorry to say goodbye to Ellen Moore, SSTI's Services Coordinator. Ellen was responsible for the initial administrative set-up of the Institute and produced the SSTI Weekly Digest.

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