DURANT, OK – The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma has received a nearly $2 million Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), marking a milestone in advancing healthcare logistics and transportation innovation across the reservation.
“Our people deserve timely, high-quality healthcare no matter where they live,” said Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton. “This SMART grant allows us to harness cutting-edge technology – drones, robotics, and intelligent logistics – to better serve our tribal members across rural and hard-to-reach areas.”
“This project is a prime example of innovation meeting a critical need. By reducing dependency on rural highways, we can make healthcare delivery safer and faster,” said James Grimsley, Executive Director of Advanced Technology Initiatives.
“The Choctaw Nation’s success with advanced drone integration shows what the SMART program is designed to achieve – technology-driven solutions that improve safety, reliability, and quality of life,” said Stan Caldwell, USDOT SMART Grants Program Director.
The initiative positions the Choctaw Nation as a national leader in rural medical drone operations and transportation innovation, aiming to improve diagnostic times, emergency response, and prescription delivery across the reservation.
