USDA Awards $749,007 Distance Learning Grant to Williamsburg County School District to Expand Rural Learning Opportunities

(Columbia, S.C., October 7, 2026) - U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development South Carolina State Director Jacob French today announced the agency is awarding $749,007 through the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program to Williamsburg County School District.

"Every student deserves access to a quality education, no matter how far they live from a major city. This grant will give students and teachers across Williamsburg County the technology they need to learn, collaborate and grow," said State Director French. "Under the leadership of President Donald Trump and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, we are making sure rural South Carolina prospers."

This investment will provide distance learning to 4,132 rural residents throughout Williamsburg County. Instructors located at five sites in Greeleyville, Hemingway and Kingstree will provide professional development resources, community support, educational opportunities, specialized support services, and remediation and intervention programs to five end-user sites using interactive communication equipment.

Recently State Director French visited Kenneth Gardner Leadership Academy, one of the sites that will receive equipment through the project. The project includes approximately $195,924 in equipment and services for the school, including all-in-one video bars, 75-inch interactive panels, teacher laptops, training and installation for 11 classrooms, the media center, a conference room and a large space.

USDA Rural Development's Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program helps rural communities use technology to connect to educational and healthcare opportunities they may otherwise not have access to.

USDA Rural Development invests in rural America with programs to promote rural prosperity. These programs expand access to high-speed internet, electricity, and transportation infrastructure, and support economic growth, healthcare, education, housing and other community essentials. Discover more investment details and historical data in the Rural Data Gateway and learn more about the agency at www.rd.usda.gov/sc .

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