Broadband reconnect congressionally directed spending - grants

County of Herkimer received a $500,000 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service under the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grants program (CFDA 10.855), awarded on June 5, 2025. The grant funds telecommunications-enabled infrastructure and technologies to extend educational and medical services to underserved rural areas in Herkimer County, New York. The project will be completed by June 5, 2027, with performance taking place at Herkimer Street in Staten Island, New York.

Under this DLT award, County of Herkimer will acquire and deploy advanced telecommunications equipment—including audio, video, and information technologies—to bridge technological gaps and improve access to distance learning and telemedicine services for rural residents. The project aligns with the DLT program's objective to encourage the use of telemedicine, telecommunications, and computer networks to deliver educational and medical benefits to rural populations. As a local government entity, the county will serve as the project administrator, ensuring that the benefits of this federal funding are passed through to rural community facilities and residents in the region.