$10M to be invested in Tribes
Tribal irrigation, power projects funded
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News from the Dept. of the Interior
WASHINGTON — The Department of the Interior recently announced a $10 million investment from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to upgrade and modernize Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)-owned irrigation projects and power utilities serving Tribal communities. The funding for fiscal year 2024 is part of a five-year, $50 million investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The President’s Investing in America agenda – a key pillar of Bidenomics – is deploying record investments to provide affordable high-speed internet, safer roads and bridges, modern wastewater and sanitations systems, clean drinking water, reliable and affordable electricity, good paying jobs and economic development in every Tribal community. The President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law alone invests $13 billion directly to Tribes throughout the United States, including $250 million over five years to address irrigation, power systems, dam safety and water sanitation.
“The Bureau of Indian Affairs is an important provider of water and electricity to the Tribal communities where it operates irrigation and power systems,” said Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland. “President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is allowing us to continue fulfilling our trust responsibility for Tribal public health and safety by ensuring that BIA-owned and operated irrigation projects and power utilities are well-maintained and functioning properly.”
The funding announced today will augment ongoing infrastructure projects at the following local BIA-owned power utility:
Mission Valley Power on the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana will receive $1 million to support repairs and upgrades to its Charlo substation, as well as upgrade and relocate its Finley substation. This investment will reduce the risk of failure while also increasing efficiency and safety.
This investment builds on $2 million power projects have already received from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law over the past two years.
For more information, visit the BIA’s interactive map on projects in Tribal communities funded through the bureau under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
