USDA awards nearly $5 million in tribal college grants

About two-thirds of all the tribal colleges in the country will benefit in some way from a USDA grant program, meaning schools will soon see improvements in their daycare centers, cafeterias and even bathroom updates. Here’s the press release.

WASHINGTON — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack
announced Thursday that 22 tribal colleges in nine states have been selected to
receive $4.7 million through the USDA Rural Development Tribal College
Grant program.

“This funding will help tribal colleges make much-needed infrastructure
improvements so they can continue to provide job opportunities for local
residents and spur economic development,” Vilsack said.

USDA Rural Development Tribal College Grants are provided to land-grant
institutions for education and outreach to provide essential services to
Native American communities and to help meet residents’ needs.

In North Dakota, for example, United Tribes Technical College (UTTC) has
been selected for a $220,000 grant to help remodel and expand the
college’s cafeteria. The facility was built more than 40 years ago and
does not meet the needs of the current student body, which has increased
173 percent since 2002. The project will expand the facility by 3,500
square feet and double the number of people that may be served. There
also will be more space for food preparation, serving, cooking and
storage. Small appliances will be replaced with more energy efficient
ones. UTTC is a private not-for-profit two-year college established in
1969 by an intertribal organization. It is operated by the five tribes
located in North Dakota.

The White Earth Tribal and Community College in Mahnomen, Minn., plans
to use a $199,500 grant to purchase and renovate a building the college
currently rents. The renovation will include accessibility improvements,
the replacement of interior doors, upgrades to bathrooms and the
electrical system, and expansion of classroom space. Also, new
vestibules will be added to increase energy efficiency.

In 2008, Salish Kootenai College in Pablo, Mont., used a $272,350 USDA
Rural Development grant to add three classrooms to an existing art
building to accommodate increased enrollment. The building is expected
to be completed next month. USDA Rural Development funding has played a
significant role in upgrading and expanding facilities on the campus,
which has helped boost enrollment. In past years, USDA funds have been
used to help fund a performing arts center, a wellness facility at the
college, renovation of a day care center, as well as paving and
infrastructure work.

Below is a complete list of the selected recipients. Funding of each
award is contingent upon the recipient meeting the conditions of the
grant agreement.

Alaska

Ilisagvik College; $220,000 grant

Arizona

Tohono O’odham Community College; $220,000 grant

Minnesota

Leech Lake Tribal College; $219,625 grant
White Earth Tribal & Community College; $199,500 grant

Montana

Salish Kootenai College; $220,000 grant
Little Big Horn College; $220,000 grant
Fort Peck Community College; $220,000 grant
Fort Belknap College; $220,000 grant
Chief Dull Knife College; $220,000 grant
Blackfeet Community College; $220,000 grant
Stone Child College; $220,000 grant

Nevada

Little Priest Tribal College; $85,000 grant

North Dakota

* United Tribes Technical College; $220,000 grant
* Cankdeska Cikana Community College; $220,000 grant
* Turtle Mountain Community College; $220,000 grant
* Sitting Bull; $220,000 grant
* Bay Mills Community College; $220,000 grant

South Dakota

Oglala Lakota College; $220,000 grant
Sisseton Wahpeton College; $220,000 grant

Washington

Northwest Indian College; $220,000 grant

Wisconsin

College of Menominee Nation; $220,000 grant
Lac Courte Oreioles Ojibwa Community College; $220,000 grant

USDA Rural Development’s mission is to increase economic opportunity and
improve the quality of life for rural residents. Rural Development
fosters growth in homeownership, finances business development and
supports the creation of critical community and technology
infrastructure. Further information on rural programs is available at a
local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA Rural
Development’s web site at www.rurdev.usda.gov.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a
complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil
Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call
(800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

 

Jodi Rave