The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced the awarding of $95 million to 55 communities through the Indian Community Development Block Grant Program.
Grant funds are expected to be used for infrastructure, community facilities, housing rehabilitation, economic development and other forms of support for Native American and Alaskan Native families on Indian reservations and in other Indian areas, according to a May 22 news release.
"The Biden-Harris administration is committed to sharing resources with Tribal communities so they can meet their own unique needs," HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge said in the release. "The funding announced today will help make Tribal communities safer, healthier and help families thrive.”
The Indian Community Development Block Grant Program is a competitive grant the offers funding for multiple activities on reserves and in nearby communities, the release reported. Eligible operations include, but are not limited to, renovating homes, buying property, creating roads, installing water and sewer systems and constructing community buildings with single or multiple uses.
The award recipients include Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes, Craig Tribal Association, Douglas Indian Association, Gulkana Village Council, Kokhanok Village, Petersburg Indian Association and Wrangell Cooperative Association, according to a list of the awardees. All of these recipients are in Alaska and will receive $2 million.
Additional recipients include Sault Ste Marie Housing Authority in Michigan, $1,397,500; Bois Forte Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe in Minnesota, $2 million; Mi'kmaq Nation Aroostook Band of Micmacs in Maine, $1,950,000; Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians in Mississippi, $688,559; Chickahominy Indian Tribe in Virginia, $2 million; Chippewa Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy Reservation in Montana, $2 million; Fort Belknap Housing Authority in Montana, $1,189,005; Fort Peck Housing Authority in Montana, $2 million; Northern Cheyenne Housing Authority in Montana, $2 million; Salish and Kootenai Housing Authority in South Dakota, $1,280,000; Crow Creek Housing Authority in South Dakota, $2 million; Oglala Sioux (Lakota) Housing Authority in South Dakota, $2 million; and Utah Paiute Tribal Housing Authority in Utah, $2 million, the list reported.
