Dayspring gets $746,351 distance learning and telemedicine grant

A medical service provider located in Whitley County and an area college are getting a portion of the $45.3 million that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development has awarded for projects across rural Kentucky.

Dayspring Health Inc. will use a $746,351 distance learning and telemedicine grant to equip nine hub/end-user sites throughout Whitley County, and Campbell and Claiborne counties in eastern Tennessee with telemedicine pods and accessories.

Medical professionals at Dayspring Health Inc. will deliver primary care telehealth throughout the greater Kentucky and Tennessee regions to nine locations benefitting 4,120 individuals with the funding.

Also, Union College will use a $787,400 distance learning and telemedicine grant to equip five hub sites and four end-user sites throughout Knox and Whitley counties with live, interactive video conferencing technology.

Instructors at Union College in Knox County will deliver registered nurse-to-Bachelor of Science in Nursing and pre-licensure-to-Bachelor of Science in Nursing courses to four locations benefitting 1,024 students and 110 faculty members in rural Kentucky communities.

In addition, two other Knox County projects also received funding.

The City of Barbourville will use a $36,000 community facilities grant to continue maintaining roadways and facilities with a new street department vehicle. This investment will impact over 3,000 people.

Moses Drilling Company LLC will use a $13,600 Rural Energy for America Program Grant to install a 11.05-kilowatt rooftop solar system. This project is expected to save $1,295.91 per year. This system will generate 14,399 kilowatt hours of energy per year, which is enough energy to power one home.

“From large projects to small, USDA Rural Development is your Kentucky partner in prosperity, especially in those communities that have too often been left behind,” said USDA Rural Development Kentucky State Director Dr. Tom Carew. “Under the leadership of President (Joe) Biden and Secretary (Tom) Vilsack, USDA Rural Development is helping to build our economy from the middle out and bottom up by improving the infrastructure and quality of life across rural Kentucky.”