The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians (GTB) has announced its second distribution of gaming revenues for 2024. (The first round is detailed here.) The disbursal of funds gives a total of $643,166.36 to 31 local units of government, including several in Grand Traverse County.

Twice a year, GTB allocates 2 percent of its video gaming revenues, as stipulated in the Tribes v. Engler consent decree. For GTB, those payouts happen on or around January 31 and July 31 each year. For this cycle, the tribe received 45 applications, which totaled $1,380,735.77 in requests.

Traverse City and Grand Traverse County grantees are detailed below.

· Four allocations for applications from the Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners, including:

o $30,000 in support for the 13th Circuit Court and Safe Haven, “to continue to provide safety and security to children and at-risk parents in situations of domestic violence and high conflict.”

o $15,680 “to support the Parks and Recreation Department and the Conservation District’s Discovery Boardwalk Project.”

o $8,000 to the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office “for the continued project to replace expired AEDs in all patrol vehicles.”

o $5,500 for TART’s Recycle-A-Bicycle Program, which “provides bikes to economically disadvantaged individuals.”

· $14,215.75 to the Grand Traverse Metro Fire and EMS Authority, “to replace a currently inoperable CPR Device with a new LUCAS 3 CPR Device.”

· $20,000 to Northwest Education Services, “to support Michael’s Place in providing bereavement services for free at local schools.”

· $42,692.15 to Northwestern Michigan College, “to hire a student success coach for the Native American Student Organization.”

· $68,000 to Traverse City Area Public Schools, “to support the Title VI Indigenous Education Program in funding staff to provide academic and cultural support to native students.”

· $14,532,91 to Whitewater Township, “to support the improvement of the township park by adding a toddler pay structure.”

· $5,076 to the Whitewater Township Fire Department, “to purchase new vehicle extrication stabilization struts to aid in vehicle crashes.”

Beyond Grand Traverse County limits, here are a few grants of interest from outlying areas include:

· $15,000 to the City of Frankfort, “to support Frankfort Area Community Land Trust in the Grove Place Project, building affordable homes for families in Benzie County’s Missing Middle Class.”

· $49,000 to Elk Rapids Public Schools, “for the Native American Tutoring and Liaison Program to hire tutors to provide educational assistance to Native American students.”

· $50,000 to the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners, “to support Housing North’s project to expand the rental preservation program.”