Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $2 Million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance to Boost Telehealth Workforce Training Efforts at Des Moines University in Iowa

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to Des Moines University Osteopathic Medicine Center, Des Moines, Iowa, to purchase equipment for the university’s planned state-of-the-art telehealth training center. This EDA grant, to be matched with $2.1 million in local investment, is expected to create 678 jobs.

“EDA is committed to helping communities across the nation implement strategies to mitigate economic hardships brought on by the coronavirus pandemic,” said Dennis Alvord, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. “This EDA investment will help train Des Moines area healthcare providers in telehealth technologies critical to responding to the pandemic, while also preparing students for the future of healthcare.”

“I’m very happy Des Moines University has been awarded a $2 million grant from the Economic Development Administration for their brand-new telehealth training center,” said Senator Chuck Grassley. “This is great news for the students in our state who will learn from this cutting-edge technology and Iowa families who will ultimately benefit from this type of care,” Grassley said. “Having access to advanced telehealth programs is more important than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic and as we look forward. It’s also critical for Iowans to continue to have a variety of care options.”

“Telehealth has provided millions of Americans the opportunity to continue receiving medical care without putting themselves at risk during a pandemic and provided a glimpse at the future of 21st century medicine,” said Congresswoman Cindy Axne (IA-03). “Telemedicine gives our medical providers the opportunity to provide care at a lower cost to patients with more efficiency, and I’m pleased to see this multi-million dollar investment from our last COVID-19 relief package coming back to Iowa to help train the professionals who will help make telehealth a permanent feature of our health care system.”

This project will allow Des Moines University to purchase equipment to be housed in a state-of-the-art telehealth training center that is currently being designed with assistance from a regional health care system. With this equipment, students will be able to train with simulated and live patients to advance telehealth workforce training objectives.

This project is funded under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (Public Law 116-136 PDF), which provided EDA with $1.5 billion for economic assistance programs to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance, which is being administered under the authority of the bureau’s flexible Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) (PDF) program, provides a wide-range of financial assistance to eligible communities and regions as they respond to and recover from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.