WASHINGTON, October 23, 2012 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that 21 projects in eight states have been funded through the Tribal College Initiative Grant program to make campus improvements, provide outreach and educational offerings. Janie Hipp, Senior Advisor to the Secretary made the announcement on the Secretary's behalf while attending the National Congress of American Indians Annual Conference.
"Investing in tribal educational facilities is crucial to increasing economic opportunity in tribal communities," Hipp said. "These institutions will use the funds to improve educational offerings and that will pay dividends for generations to come."
The USDA Rural Development Tribal College Grant program provides land-grant institutions with funds for outreach and education services to help meet the needs of Native American communities. The $3.3 million in grants announced today will help tribal colleges finance infrastructure improvements, purchase equipment and develop essential community facilities.
For example, in Brimley, Mich., Bay Mills Community College has been selected to receive a grant to help construct an Early Childhood Education Learning lab building. In Mission, S.D., Sinte Gleska University has been selected to receive a grant to renovate the North Campus college science center, classroom and a computer lab. Nebraska's Little Priest Tribal College will receive funds to help construct an educational facility with classrooms for science, math, writing, speech and other courses.
The following colleges were selected for funding. Funds are contingent upon the recipient meeting the conditions of the grant agreement.
Michigan
- Bay Mills Community College; $158,656 grant; Funds will be used for the construction of a new Early Childhood Education Learning lab building on the campus.
Minnesota
- White Earth Tribal and Community College; $158,656 grant; Funds will be used to purchase computers, library furnishings, transportation and lab equipment.
- Leech Lake Tribal College; $158,656 grant; Funds will be used to purchase maintenance equipment.
Montana
- Salish-Kootenai College; $158,656 grant; Funds will be used for transportation improvements.
- Aaniih Nakoda College; $158,656 grant; Funds will be used to construct an addition to the Technology Center.
- Fort Peck Community College; $158,656 grant; Funds will be used to install geothermal wells and fund the renovation of the entrance to the Greet the Dawn Building on campus.
- Little Big Horn College; $158,656 grant; Funds will be used for transportation improvements near the Health and Wellness Center.
- Blackfeet Community College; $158,656 grant; Funds will be used for the construction of the South Wind Lodge addition.
- Stone Child College; $158,656 grant; Funds will be used to purchase classroom equipment, make street improvements, replace a vehicle and purchase campus maintenance equipment.
Nebraska
- Nebraska Indian Community College; $158,656 grant; Funds will be used to help construct a multi-purpose educational facility on the campus in Santee.
- Little Priest Tribal College; $158,656 grant; Funds will be used to help construct an educational facility with classrooms for science, math, writing, speech and other courses.
North Dakota
- Cankdeska Cikana Community College; $158,656 grant; Funds will be used for the construction of a maintenance building.
- Turtle Mountain Community College; $158,656 grant; Funds will be used for transportation improvements.
- United Tribes Technical College; $158,656 grant; Funds will be used for street improvements.
- Fort Berthold Community College; $158,656 grant; Funds will be used to purchase campus signs, computer and classroom equipment, enhance parking and building lighting.
- Sitting Bull College; $158,656 grant; Funds will be used to fund program/office complex equipment.
South Dakota
- Sisseton Wahpeton College; $158,626 grant; Funds will be used to provide furnishings and equipment for the library.
- Sinte Gleska University; $158,656 grant; Funds will be used to renovate the Science Center, a classroom, and a computer lab on the North Campus.
- Oglala Lakota College; $158,656 grant; Funds will be used for upgrades to make buildings compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Washington
- Northwest Indian College; $158,656 grant; Funds will be used to purchase furniture, fixtures and equipment for the Coast Salish Institute.
Wisconsin
- College of Menominee Nation; $158,656 grant; Funds will be used to make campus building improvements.
For additional information on Rural Development projects, please visit Rural Development's new interactive web map featuring program funding and success stories for fiscal years 2009-2011. The data can be found at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RDSuccessStories.html.
President Obama's plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President's leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way – strengthening America's economy, small towns and rural communities. USDA's investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands as the backbone of our American values. President Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack are committed to a smarter use of Federal resources to foster sustainable economic prosperity and ensure the government is a strong partner for businesses, entrepreneurs and working families in rural communities.
USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure programs through a national network of state and local offices. Rural Development has an active portfolio of more than $172 billion in loans and loan guarantees. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America.
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