Copyright © 2006 NLThomas
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News from the Cherokee Nation, OK
Copyright © 2006 CNO
WEBBERS FALLS, OKLAHOMA – Keeping adults fit and keeping children and young adults occupied will become much easier in Webbers Falls and the surrounding area thanks to a recent investment by the Cherokee Nation.The Cherokee Nation has agreed to invest matching funds in the new community fitness center construction project, part of the sports complex in Webbers Falls in Muskogee County, through its Community Work Project program.
The Webbers Falls Sports Association will oversee this project, which has been three years in the making. The fitness center will offer exercise machines such as treadmills and stationary bikes as well as equipment such as exercise mats for aerobics classes and floor exercises. It will also contain a bank of computers for children to use after school and on weekends.
“These projects let communities prioritize what they need and work together to make it happen,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “We’re proud of the work our citizens are doing for their own community and are happy the Cherokee Nation can contribute to the good things that are already going on.”
Cherokee Nation’s Community Work Project program will invest slightly more than $38,000 in the Association for the center, and Association officials will match slightly more than this amount in the form of community labor. A total cost of nearly $82,000 is projected for the project.
The fitness center, which will be approximately 30 feet by 50 feet, will be able to house a dozen people at a time as they go through their workout routines.
“We wouldn’t be able to do this without Cherokee Nation’s help. There are just not enough community funds to go around out there to help us do this sort of thing,” said Clifton Carter, president of the Webbers Falls Sport Association.
Carter added the Cherokee Nation’s Community Work Project funds will help the Webbers Falls Sports Association meet its financial obligations to the project and also help the group get on its feet as well as providing much-needed and wanted services to community members.
The purpose of Community Work Projects is to develop stronger Cherokee communities by providing small amounts of matching funding to assist communities and community-based organizations within the Cherokee Nation’s 14-county tribal jurisdiction to organize around issues and projects that have broad community support. Projects must have a self-help focus and must be aimed in a broad sense at improving the community’s ability to be self-reliant.
In 2005, Cherokee Nation invested a total of $486,192.54 in 28 community organizations for improvement projects within the communities.
For more information about the Cherokee Nation Community Work Project program, contact Denise Honawa, Community Services administrative officer, phone: 918-453-5248 or by email.
| Related Cherokee Nation contact information: |
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Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org
Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager |
Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org
Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation |