The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians is distributing $739,490.44 of its gaming revenue to local units of government. The dollars have been allocated for 39 local applicants as part of the Tribe’s “two percent allocation.” The Band allocates two percent of its video gaming revenue to local units of government twice each year. Since the 2 percent allocation began in 1994, the Grand Traverse Band has allocated $44,908,652.77 to local organizations.

The Tribal Council awarded 39 applicants a total of $739,490.44 from the 63 applications received. Those in Grand Traverse County include:

Acme Township: $25,000 for T.A.R.T Trails Inc to provide critical transportation and recreational connections by constructing just under a mile of non-motorized trail in Acme to connect with the Nakwema Trailway.

City of Traverse City: $20,000 for Grace Episcopal Church’s Jubilee House to expand operational hours. Jubilee House is a homeless day shelter that is open to the 270 homeless people in the community.

East Bay Township: $18,434.82 for East Bay Ambulance to replace an aging LUCAS CPR device allowing them to continue to operate at top capacity.

East Bay Township: $21,119.48 for East Bay Ambulance to replace an outdate cardiac monitor allowing them to continue to operate at top capacity.

Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners: $5,605 for Grand Traverse Community Enrichment which has partnered with Significant Strikes Boxing and MMA to provide a free after school youth martial arts program in Leelanau County. Providing tools such as learning routine and teaching habits such as awareness, control, discipline, and respect.

Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners: $6,249 for the Grand Traverse Parks and Recreation Department to provide CPR and AED training to 100 staff members, which in turn increases park safety for visitors.

Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners: $29,250 for Grand Traverse Parks and Recreation Department to upgrade the restrooms at the Civic Center to provide a healthier and safer environment for patrons.

Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners: $4,872.50 for the Grand Traverse Sheriff’s Office to purchase personal flotation devices and rope throw rescue bags for all officer patrol vehicles to increase officer safety when responding to water rescue calls and improve survival chances for a person in distress.

Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners: $50,000 for the Women’s Resource Center to help continue to support the services provided to survivors of domestic violence. Services include emergency shelter, free and confidential counseling, transitional housing, advocacy, education and a 24-hour help line.

Kingsley Area Schools: $8,000 to support Project Graduation 2023 which provides a free, safe, drug and alcohol-free all-night event for over 124 seniors.

Long Lake Township: $6,928.03 to partner with the Child and Family Services YouthWork program to construct a 32-foot bridge and retaining wall in the Cedar Creek Natural Area. This helps the township by providing better access for fire and EMS, increased visitor safety and help the Youth Work program by providing at risk youth and young adults with pay, job skills, and positive peer experiences.

Long Lake Township Fire Department: $22,515.46 to purchase updated PPE (fire coats and pants) for 12 firefighters to help maintain safety.

Northwest Education Services: $25,500 to support Michael’s Place in increasing organizational capacity to meet the support needs of the bereaved who seek services and help create a mass casualty preparedness response plan for the region.

Paradise Township Emergency Services: $19,923.36 to purchase a MTS Powerload System which allows for EMS to safely lift patients into the ambulance while minimizing EMS injuries.

Traverse City Area Public Schools: $15,000 for the School Support Network (SSN, formerly STEP) program to expand the program to year-round. This program serves more than 550 homeless students and families by removing barriers to keep students in one school by providing transportation, extracurricular activities, food, clothing, hygiene products, learning materials, books and snacks.

Whitewater Township Fire Department: $4,300 to replace a 1998 expired rescue lift bag set, which helps in vehicle, farm and industrial accidents.

The Grand Traverse Band will make its decision regarding the first-half 2023 two percent allocations in July.