USDA awards nearly $5 million in tribal college grants

WASHINGTON -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsackannounced Thursday that 22 tribal colleges in nine states have been selected toreceive $4.7 million through the USDA Rural Development Tribal CollegeGrant program.

"This funding will help tribal colleges make much-needed infrastructureimprovements so they can continue to provide job opportunities for localresidents and spur economic development," Vilsack said.

USDA Rural Development Tribal College Grants are provided to land-grantinstitutions for education and outreach to provide essential services toNative American communities and to help meet residents' needs.

In North Dakota, for example, United Tribes Technical College (UTTC) hasbeen selected for a $220,000 grant to help remodel and expand thecollege's cafeteria. The facility was built more than 40 years ago anddoes not meet the needs of the current student body, which has increased173 percent since 2002. The project will expand the facility by 3,500square feet and double the number of people that may be served. Therealso will be more space for food preparation, serving, cooking andstorage. Small appliances will be replaced with more energy efficientones. UTTC is a private not-for-profit two-year college established in1969 by an intertribal organization. It is operated by the five tribeslocated in North Dakota.

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

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

Below is a complete list of the selected recipients. Funding of eachaward is contingent upon the recipient meeting the conditions of thegrant agreement.

Alaska

Ilisagvik College; $220,000 grant

Arizona

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

Minnesota

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

Montana

Salish Kootenai College; $220,000 grantLittle Big Horn College; $220,000 grantFort Peck Community College; $220,000 grantFort Belknap College; $220,000 grantChief Dull Knife College; $220,000 grantBlackfeet Community College; $220,000 grantStone 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 grantSisseton Wahpeton College; $220,000 grant

Washington

Northwest Indian College; $220,000 grant

Wisconsin

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

USDA Rural Development's mission is to increase economic opportunity andimprove the quality of life for rural residents. Rural Developmentfosters growth in homeownership, finances business development andsupports the creation of critical community and technologyinfrastructure. Further information on rural programs is available at alocal USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA RuralDevelopment's web site at www.rurdev.usda.gov.

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

Jodi Rave