Earlier today I announced on behalf of Secretary Tom Vilsack that 19 tribal colleges in nine states have been awarded grants through the USDA Rural Development’s Tribal College Initiative Grant program, part of our Community Facilities program. Funding will be used to upgrade Tribal college facilities and promote energy savings efforts.
Investing in Tribal educational facilities is key to increasing economic development in Native communities. These institutions and the students and faculty will benefit from funding that will enable them to provide enhanced educational opportunities and create jobs.
The program provides land-grant institutions with funds for outreach and education services to help meet the needs of Native American communities. The total allotted to Tribal colleges today totals almost $4 million in grants to help finance infrastructure improvements, purchase equipment and develop essential community facilities.
For example, in Poplar, Mont., Fort Peck Community College was selected to receive a $215,000 grant to purchase and install geothermal wells, add landscaping and flooring for the new library and Information/Technology learning center. Sisseton Wahpeton College in South Dakota will receive a grant to complete construction and to purchase furnishings for the library.
In Santa Fe, New Mexico, the Institute of American Indian Arts will use a $215,000 grant to complete construction of a science and technology building. In Michigan, Bay Mills Community College will receive a $170,000 grant to complete the interior of the EMS/paramedic training center; develop infrastructure for the agri-science research site and complete work on the classroom/administrative building.
The Obama Administration is strongly committed to supporting Indian Country. To read more click here.
For a complete list of projects announced, click here.