Bridging the Gap: Financial Resources for Aspiring VR Sim Centers

Find Funding for Your VR Sim Program

Are you interested in utilizing SimX’s VR medical simulation system, but you’re not sure how to fund a new simulation program? Simulation training is vital to building essential life-saving skills across multiple specialties for nurses, EMS, military personnel, attending physicians, and so many others. From building clinical judgment and reasoning skills in nurses to practicing triage and treating mass trauma patients for emergency medical personnel, VR medical simulation training allows learners to experience new and challenging virtual patient scenarios in a realistic, immersive, and safe environment. 

While VR simulation training is vastly cheaper than traditional manikin sim, there are still upfront costs associated with building a VR sim center. So, how do you get started? Both national and statewide funding is available for your institution. These funds can be used to buy wireless headsets, SimX software, and anything else you might need to begin your journey into VR medical simulation training. 

Keep reading to discover funding opportunities you can submit to right now! 

USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant

The USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant program helps rural communities use advanced telecommunication technology to connect to each other, overcoming the effects of remoteness and low population density.

They consider projects that promote equity and economic opportunity in rural America, specifically those that advance their key priorities:

• Assisting rural communities recover economically through more and better market opportunities and through improved infrastructure
• Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to Rural Development Programs and benefits from Rural Development funded projects
• Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural communities

Who Can Apply?

Eligible applicants include most entities that provide education or health care through telecommunications, including:

• State and local governmental organizations
• Federally recognized tribes
• Non-profit organizations
• Incorporated, for-profit businesses
• Groups of eligible entities working together

Note that the DLT program is targeted to rural areas with populations of 20,000 or fewer.

How Can the Funds Be Used?

Funds from the DLT grant program can be used to purchase or support:

• Audio, video, and interactive video equipment
• Broadband facilities used for distance learning or telemedicine 
• Computer hardware, network components, and software
• Instructional programming
• Limited technical assistance and instruction on how to use distance learning and telemedicine equipment

This grant can be used to purchase SimX equipment and software! If you are eligible for this grant and need urgent funding, start your application today. DLT grant proposals are due April 29, 2024.

Follow this link to access the application guide and learn more.

Perkins V & State Funding

The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) was signed into law in 2018. This measure continued a commitment to provide nearly $1.4 billion annually for career and technical education (CTE) programs for youth and adults across the U.S.

Perkins V “represents an important opportunity to expand opportunities for every student to explore, choose, and follow career and technical education programs of study and career pathways to earn credentials of value.”  This funding is distributed annually to state and local governments to allocate as they see fit on new plans for CTE. You can read more about Perkins V here.

The best way to take advantage of this funding is to search for opportunities based on your resident state. For example, in California, Perkins V funding is allocated to various, smaller CTE grants targeted at specific populations. You can search through active grant opportunities on the California Department of Education website. Other states may have similar situations. We encourage you to explore opportunities in your state via Department of Education websites, which often host databases where you can search for grant funding.

How to Write a Successful Grant Proposal

Whether you are preparing a formal grant proposal or utilizing state-funded grant applications, it is vitally important to be aware of all grant requirements, follow instructions carefully, and submit the best proposal that you can.

Here are some basic tips for writing a successful grant proposal so you can submit it with confidence.

 1) Follow the Instructions and Application Guide

The first step in writing any grant proposal should be to read all instructions and application guidelines carefully. Use the instructions to create a comprehensive proposal outline to ensure you and your team don’t miss any important documents and complete all required narratives. Let the instructions be your guide throughout the proposal application process.

2) Be Clear and Concise

Make sure each point of your proposal is clear and understandable for your intended audience. Be straightforward and avoid unnecessary sentences by simplifying your language as much as possible. Additionally, provide accurate information and ensure each table, chart, attachment, etc., is consistent with your narrative. 

3) Know Your Audience

Be aware of who or what organization created the grant. What are their values and key priorities? How does your organization and its mission align with those values? The answer to these questions will help you create a proposal that is appropriately tailored to your audience and stands out from the competition.

4) Be Organized and Logical

Ensure that reviewers can follow the narrative of your grant by organizing your proposal in a clear and logical way. Be specific and focus on results rather than just tasks when talking about how the funds would be put into action if approved.

5) Proofread and Edit Thoroughly

Before you submit the proposal, go through multiple rounds of proofreading and editing so it is error-free. Ensure there aren’t any typos, grammar errors, or confusing sentences. When editing, pay attention to whether your proposal appropriately addresses the needs and objectives of the intended audience.

Writing a grant proposal and submitting funding applications can be an intimidating process. However, if you thoroughly research and take advantage of applicable funding opportunities for your institution, you can submit with confidence. If you are interested in exploring more research-focused funding opportunities, contact a member of the SimX team to learn about our research partnership program.