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Federal grants assist Washington tribes with infrastructure needs.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) today announced four federal grants totaling $268,150 for three Washington state tribes and the Northwest Indian College. Awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Rural Housing Service Economic Impact Initiative Grant program, these facility grants are available to rural communities experiencing high unemployment rates. Senator Murray had worked earlier in the year to enable three times as many Washington state tribes to qualify for these funds.

"I am pleased to have helped these Washington tribes and the Northwest Indian College to meet important infrastructure needs," Senator Murray said. "These funds will be used to improve education, health care and safety in these struggling communities. My only hope is that next year, even more tribes will take advantage of this program."

Due to Murray's work earlier this year, the number of Washington state tribes now eligible for these grants tripled over the number initially listed by the USDA.

According to the USDA regulations, potential recipients must have a letter from the State Department of Labor on unemployment rates. Murray convinced the state to use Bureau of Indian Affairs unemployment statistics when applying for the federal aid, rather than state statistics. BIA statistics are more accurate for measuring tribal unemployment than the county-wide statistics the state was planning to use.

As a result, 24 Washington tribes, rather than 7, now qualify for these funds.

The Washington state grant recipients are as follows:

Northwest Indian College $102,410
These funds will be used for needed infrastructure at the college.

Quinault Indian Nation $95,240
The Nation will purchase equipment for a new clinic, emergency services and a laboratory.

Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians $37,425
The tribe will replace an outdated police vehicle and will acquire a ballistic shield, two defibrillators and first aid supplies.

Skokomish Indian Tribe $33,075
Funds will be used to buy a 21-passenger school bus with safety restraints for the Head Start program.