GTB Announces Latest Round Of 2% Grants

The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (GTB) has announced the distribution of some $911,000 in grants as part of its ongoing 2 percent allocation program. The latest grants come from gaming revenue earned during the second half of 2025, and have been distributed to 57 local applicants.

Under the terms of a consent decree settling Tribes v. Engler, the Grand Traverse Band allocates 2 percent of its video gaming revenue to local units of government, as defined in the stipulation, no later than 60 days after October 1st and March 31st of each year. This payment schedule was modified with the consent of the State of Michigan to July 31st and January 31st of each year because the fiscal year of the Grand Traverse Band’s gaming operation is calendar-based.

Traverse City area and Grand Traverse County grants are listed below. Details on each grant were pulled from GTB’s press release announcing the latest allocations.

Acme Township: $46,110 for two projects at the newly acquired town hall: purchasing and implementing an ADA compliant audio system for the township’s new main meeting room; and constructing a portico overdoor entry to the main meeting room.

Blair Township Emergency Services: $ 5,086.17 to purchase ballistic protective vests and helmets to enhance responder safety, reduce preventable deaths, and improve survivability for victims through faster medical intervention.

Charter Township of Garfield: $13,384.01 to support Angel Care Childcare in meeting the licensing requirements of having two separated playgrounds for infants and toddlers. The funds will provide new playground equipment and shock absorbent surfaces.

East Bay Charter Township: $35,000 to support the Elders Advisory Organization in engaging native elders for social activities and trips to provide cultural understanding. The organization provides holiday gifts cards and provides assistance for unexpected needs like home repairs, bereavement, heating, and cooling. Funding will also go to office supplies, conferences, rent, and more.

East Bay Charter Township: $17,164.58 to purchase a new Stryker Xpedition powered stair chair for East Bay Ambulance. The new chair will be installed in the township’s new “Advanced Life Support” ambulance.

East Bay Charter Township: $4,200 to help Mt. Holiday upgrade its blue chairlift from an aging oil-based system to a modern and more environmentally responsible hydraulic system.

Elk Rapids High School: $5,000 to support “Project Graduation,” aimed at providing a post-graduation celebration that is safe, supervised, and free of alcohol and drugs. Funds will specifically go to entertainment, food, and prizes.

Grand Traverse Metro Emergency Services Authority: $7,246.35 to replace training manikins and simulators, used for the comprehensive Fire and Life Safety Education and CPR education program.

Green Lake Township Emergency Services: $30,000 to replace an end-of-life cardiac monitor/defibrillator.

Greenspire School District: $30,000 to support a food assistance program that ensures students have access to healthy, reliable food during the school day.

Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners: $20,000 to the 13th Circuit Court to support Child and Family Services’ Safe Haven program, which provides safety and security to children and at-risk parents in situations of domestic violence and high conflict.

Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners: $10,000 for the drain commission to gather the data needed to tell the story of Tributary A and AA and what has become of them. Storm flows, development in the watershed, and streams being channelized and re-routed have caused various complex issues and damage to buildings and the environment. The drain commissioner would like to bring stakeholders together, explain to them the issues, and collaborate on a restoration solution.

Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners: $14,500 to fund half of the Pantry 2 Preschool deliveries the Father Fred Foundation makes to GTB's Benodjenh Child Center in Leelanau County.

Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners: $12,000 to assist the county's Parks and Recreation Department in replacing the stairway from the Boardman River Nature Center to the river and trail network.

Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners: $2,000 to support the partnership of EcoSeeds and Homestretch Housing to construct four attainable housing project. The funds will help provide hands-on training for up to nine individuals to learn key construction skills, and will also go to PPE and transportation expenses.

Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners: $20,000 to support the county's ongoing five-year project to replace and add AEDs to all patrol units.

Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners: $8,824 to support Reining Liberty Ranch and its Mini Horse Outreach Program, which provides equine activities and therapy.

Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners: $10,000 to support the Veterans Coalition in replacing a stolen and vandalized veterans field cross at the GT Veterans Memorial park on Elmwood and 11th street in Traverse City.

Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners: $80,203.30 to support the Women’s Resource Center in continuing to provide services, programs, and shelter to those impacted by domestic and sexual violence.

Kingsley High School: $8,500 to support Project Graduation 2026 and providing entertainment, gifts, activities for all who attend.

Northwest Education Services: $11,830.31 to help fund Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan and its Reach 100 initiative, which is seeking to recruit, engage, and support 100 additional children by end of 2026.

Northwest Education Services: $24,400 to support Michael’s Place in continuing to provide bereavement services in schools. Specifically, funds will go toward completion of a "School Grief Crisis Manual" and in-school grief support services.

Northwestern Michigan College: $8,000 to help the International Affairs Forum bring a community program called "Rights of Nature: Global Movement, Local Values" to the Dennos Museum this April. This program will explore how indigenous environmental stewardship and global rights of nature movement intersect with northern Michigan’s conservation values

Traverse City Area Schools: $30,000 to help the Student Support Network, which provides free, supportive, education-related services and non-academic support to all students to help overcome homelessness and other obstacles that may create barriers to learning. The GTB allocation will help expand the program year-round by removing barriers such as transportation, extracurricular activities, and staffing.

Whitewater Township: $12,206 to allow the township's fire department to purchase three complete sets of PFAS free turnout gear.

Whitewater Township: Another $5,413.40 to help the fire department purchase a Seek AttackPRO VRS plus truck charger and two Seek FirePRO 300 thermal imaging cameras.

Whitewater Township: $8,820 to complete safety upgrades at Whitewater Township Park and Hi-Pray Park, by installing two outdoor-rated public-access AEDs with paired first aid, trauma, and stop the bleed kits. The townshup will also replace aging swim buoys and lines, install signage for emergencies, and add modern water rescue devices to provide overall safety to all utilizing the parks.