Denver HUD-ONAP staff and Administrator, Randy Akers, pose with NCTHA Board Chairman-Claude Leedom, Executive Director-Lafe Haugen and NCTHA Staff
In the last month’s edition of our Newsletter, I reported on a list of funding opportunities that the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Housing Authority applied for and received through the ARRA Stimulus Bill. We were awarded $3,000,000 million dollars of Stimulus Funding to address almost 70 old Homes with issues in the Projects Mt 12-06 to 12-12 and to install a new Water system and waterline in Rabbit Town to the Walking Horse Subdivision. In addition, the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Housing Authority received another $600,000 through the Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) ARRA Stimulus Funding. This funding will be used to help Weatherize/renovate another 20-units in the Mutual Help Mt 12-06 project. This is great news as most of the homeowners in this project are Elderly and Low-income.
There were 10 funding sources available for Tribes all over the United States and Montana. Because the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Housing Authority has been in Compliance with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, we became eligible to apply for this funding and did submit grant applications in almost every category. We did receive several of these grants and we are awaiting word on other grant applications that we have applied for, but have not been awarded yet.
The Economic Development Committee (EDA), chaired by Mr. Allen Fisher, Lame Deer district Council representative, worked hand in hand with the NCTHA Board and staff to develop a plan for more
Economic Development opportunities for the Tribe. When the plan was finalized, we submitted this application to HUD on behalf of the EDA. The application was for $200,000 with a $100,000 ‘hard match’ from the Housing Authority. The result; The Northern Cheyenne Tribal Housing Authority was awarded the grant on September 4, 2009 for a total amount of $300,000.
This funding will be used to hire an Executive Director, an Assistant, and to build a 5000 square foot plaza/mini mall for Tribal Members who want to rent space from the tribe and sell their beadwork, artwork, quilts, etc to people traveling along highway 212. There will be up to 10-spaces available for rent from the EDA committee once this building is completed. Mr. Alec Sandcrane, Chairman of the Gaming Commission, has given the EDA committee preliminary approval to build the facility near the Charging Horse Casino so our tribal members can take advantage of the Tourist traffic on highway 212. This is a great opportunity for our people and our tribe.
A Special ‘Thank you’ goes out to Mr. Allen Fisher and all of the EDA Committee members for their hard work and dedication to helping our people succeed. They include: L. Jace Killsback, Jennie Lafranier, Judith Spang, Tracy Robinson, RD Bailey and Jule Spang Sr.