Grand Traverse Band Announces Distribution of $590k

The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians announced nearly $600,000 in donation to local government units. A total of $590,130.05 was allocated to local units of government as part of the Tribe’s two percent allocation of gaming revenue. The distribution takes place twice a year. The following were among the awardees.

A Prisoner Housing Contract award of $44,712.50 was provided to Leelanau County, one of four counties to be awarded such monies.

Numerous schools received funding for a variety of programs. Indian Education programs were funded in the amounts of $49,000 to Northport Public School, $125,000 to Suttons Bay Public School, and $78,000 to Traverse City Area Public Schools. Suttons Bay Public School also was awarded $2,500 for the leadership team at the school, $15,000 towards the purchase of a 10-passenger van for sports teams and student clubs, and $5,000 for upgrades to the experiential STEM lab learning aboard the tall ship schooner Inland Seas. Leelanau Montessori Public School Academy received $5,000 toward the expansion of the school's capacity for quality childcare programming, which requires a building renovation, classroom design, teacher training and material purchases. Northwestern Michigan College received $9,093.16 towards its Native American Student Program.

Northwest Education Services (previously TBAISD) was awarded $2,500 towards Michael's Place for grief counseling.

Acme Township received $2,500 for TART Trails maintenance. Blair Township was awarded $7,194 toward upgrading the closed-circuit security camera system at Blair Township park. The Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners received $5,500 for TART Trails for the Recycle-A-Bicycle program; $10,000 towards Reining Liberty Ranch programs serving veterans who have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or traumatic brain injury (TBI); and $12,500 funding for Safe Haven.

Northwest Regional Fire Training Center was awarded $10,000 towards allowing people trained this past spring to become instructors and to host Fire Inspector 1 and Plan Review Class. Peninsula Township Fire Department received $24,856 to purchase a Stryker Grant Power Load and Compatibility Kit, a stretcher/cot. Suttons Bay Bingham Fire & Rescue Authority received funding towards the purchase of a Cascade system for filling the self-contained breathing apparatus in the amount of $25,631.16. Whitewater Township Fire Department was given $7,300 to replace one outdated Thermal Imaging Camera (TIC), which is used to locate persons in distress in low visibility areas.

Since the two percent allocation began in 1994, the Grand Traverse Band has allocated $42,785,368.59 to local organizations.