[Washington] Lummis win $1M grant to fight poverty

from The Bellingham Herald

Successful effort could bring tribe $5M more

SERENA LEI
THE BELLINGHAM HERALD


Lummi Nation won a $1 million grant to combat poverty Tuesday, with the possibility of earning $5 million more if it hits certain benchmarks.

Of 76 Northwest region tribes, only the Lummis and two others received multimillion-dollar grants from the Northwest Area Foundation.

The foundation, through its Ventures program, is partnering with these three tribes for 10 years to fight poverty.

"This project represents a long-term commitment to address the symptoms of poverty our people face," said Lummi Chairman Darrell Hillaire. "It lies at the root of many of Lummi's problems. We see this funding as a chance to help our people become self-sufficient."

Lummi Nation, with more than 4,000 enrolled members, is the smallest of the three tribes.

The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in central South Dakota received a $2.5 million grant and the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa in North Dakota was awarded $2.9 million. Both tribes will receive another $7 million over the next 10 years if they reach certain goals.

Tribes will receive the additional funds if they show progress, such as measuring how the program has helped people.

Lummi's long-term plan to reduce poverty focuses on business ownership. The grant will be used to create jobs, promote new businesses and rejuvenate the fishing industry.

A small business development center will help entrepreneurs with everything from loans and business plans to equipment.

Tribal members also can expect help on a practical level with day care, job training and lessons on personal finance.

Gloria Point has been working for two years with Lummi Nation to prepare for this grant. Point and six focus groups spent months interviewing some of the poorest tribe members and crafting a strategy to submit.

Nearly a third of Lummi members live off the reservation, so Point also consulted with county organizations, including the Bellingham Whatcom Economic Development Council and local colleges.

"We've got close to 1,200, 1,500 (members) living in Bellingham and if they are not gainfully employed, you know they are utilizing the services out there," Point said. "We recognized that anything we did within the tribe would impact on the rest of Whatcom County."