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Pokagons Win HUD Block Grant for Water Safety at Dowagiac Campus

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Safer water and fire mains are headed to a Potawatomi Tribal community near Dowagiac thanks to a major Community Development Block Grant from the federal government.

On Friday, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded $880,000 to two Native American tribes in Michigan to improve housing conditions and to stimulate local economic development.  The awards are part of HUD’s Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) Program, a national competitive program that supports a wide range of community development and affordable housing activities, from new housing for individual families to community amenities like rec centers or water lines.

HUD Secretary Ben Carson says, “These grants will support our Native American communities as they work to improve housing conditions and neighborhoods.” He adds, “HUD will continue to be a steadfast partner to tribes as they design and execute their community development plans.”

In our region, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians are getting a $280,000 grant to fund construction of water lines to two sections of a project to include new lines and fire mains as well as closing and restoring an old well system in the area.

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The water line will also provide new and efficient service to the area known as the Rodgers Lake Campus near Dowagiac on which a new Health & Wellness Center, Language & Cultural Center, a Head start Center as well as a Social Services Building are located. That project will primarily serve the Head Start Building, and the Social Services campus by providing the required number of fire hydrants and water pressure for fire protection as well as delivery of potable drinking water.

HUD Midwest Deputy Regional Administrator, James Cunningham, says, “The ICDBG grants in Michigan will facilitate the development of a youth services building to empower youth with academic and employment training opportunities for the Hannahville Indian Community and to improve water service including the delivery of potable water service which is essential for growth and development of the Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi Tribal community.”

With a deep need for more affordable housing in tribal communities, most of this year’s project winners will use their ICDBG funds to build homes or to rehabilitate dilapidated housing, in order to alleviate homelessness, relieve overcrowding, and avoid members having to leave their community – spurring jobs and economic development along the way.

The Hannahville Indian Community Tribe is being awarded an ICDBG of $600,000 for the construction/expansion of a Youth Services Building that will expand an after school and summer academic program, a youth employment program as well as an Aquaponic/greenhouse project operated by the youth and several recreational and sports programs. The addition of 4,300 square feet will provide 5 additional classrooms and restroom facilities to ensure code capacity compliance and continue to allow 7 days a week services to tribal youth which number 80 or more daily.

The ICDBG program was established in 1977 to help Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages meet their community development needs, including decent housing, healthy living environments, and economic opportunities. Federally recognized Indian tribes, bands, groups or nations (including Alaska Indian, Aleuts and Eskimos,) Alaska Native villages, and eligible tribal organizations can compete for this funding. The grant awardees can use the funding to build new housing, fix existing housing, buy land for housing; or for infrastructure projects including roads, water and sewer projects; and to spur economic development including jobs.

HUD administers six programs that are specifically targeted to American Indian, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian individuals and families, and federally recognized tribal governments.  Through the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act (NAHASDA), HUD will provide more than $730 million to fund programs to support housing and development initiatives in American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities.  Through innovative programming, American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments have championed sustainable and community-driven solutions to their housing and community development challenges.

HUD’s mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and http://espanol.hud.gov.  You can also connect with HUD on social media  or sign up for news alerts on HUD’s Email List.