IAD News:SANTA FE ― The New Mexico Indian Affairs Department (IAD) Wednesday announced that more than $14 million in funding was awarded across 11 tribal communities by the Tribal Infrastructure Fund Board.
The Tribal Infrastructure Act, which created the Tribal Infrastructure Fund Board in 2005, recognizes that many of New Mexico’s tribal communities lack basic infrastructure, resulting in poor health, social and economic conditions. The nine-member board thoroughly evaluates and scores project proposals from tribal communities to ensure that critical need is established. The funds will be administered through the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department.
“These projects are absolutely essential and, in some cases, long overdue,” Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said. “Hundreds of families across New Mexico’s tribal communities will benefit from these investments. State government must always be proactively seeking measures that will meet the needs of our rural neighbors, tribal neighbors and any neighbors who lack crucial infrastructure – and my administration will continue to explore means of honoring and rebuilding sacred government-to-government partnerships.”
“The New Mexico Indian Affairs Department is honored to be able to make these awards to so many important projects in Indian Country,” Secretary of Indian Affairs Lynn Trujillo said. “I’m thankful to our Governor and to our Legislature for their leadership and their continued support for the Tribal Infrastructure Fund. These resources fund critical infrastructure projects that impact the daily lives of thousands of New Mexicans.”
“The Pueblo of Santa Ana is thankful for the funds that were awarded to our community. This money will help us to construct a water storage tank and will help to improve the lives of many and strengthen the community,” Governor Timothy Menchego said. “My administration looks forward to working with the State of New Mexico to accomplish our project.”
“Vice President Myron Lizer and I are very thankful to the TIF board for recognizing and funding the needs of our communities, especially those in rural areas,” President Jonathan Nez said. “ We are very optimistic that the Navajo Nation and the State of New Mexico will work well together to complete these projects to help our overall community development efforts.”
“On behalf of the Pueblo of Santa Clara I’d like to thank the TIF board and the Lujan Grisham administration for this appropriation,” Governor J. Michael Chavarria said. “This money will allow our pueblo to rebuild our wastewater infrastructure and will provide service to hundreds of families in the pueblo. I’d also like to thank our New Mexico Legislature for their support for the Tribal Infrastructure Fund. This fund is critical to ensuring that tribes can provide essential infrastructure in our rural communities.”
Below are the awarded projects and a description:
Navajo Nation, Tse’iiAhi Chapter ($400,000) – Tse’ii’ahi’ Head Start Facility Construction
To construct a Head Start Facility in the Tse’iiAhi Chapter of the Navajo Nation in McKinley County
Pueblo of Santa Clara ($1,858,393.20) – Water and Wastewater System Improvements
To construct a Water and Wastewater System Improvement in the Pueblo of Santa Clara in Rio Arriba County
Navajo Nation, To’hajiilee Chapter ($975,000) – To’hajiilee Water System Improvements Project
To construct a Water System Improvement in the To’hajiilee Chapter of the Navajo Nation in Bernalillo County
Navajo Nation, Chichiltah Chapter ($501,113) – Chichiltah-Vanderwagen Community Water System – Design Phase 2
To design a Community Water System Design Phase 2 in the Chichiltah Chapter of the Navajo Nation in McKinley County
Pueblo of Santa Ana ($1,457,401.20) – Construct a 350,000-gallon Welded Steel Community Water Storage Tank with appurtenances.
To construction a 350,000-gallon Welded Steel Community Water Storage Tank with Appurtenances for the Pueblo of Santa Ana in Sandoval County
Ohkay Owingeh ($1,458,128.80) – Phase III Waterline
To construct NM 47 Two-Way Left Turn Lane Project; 3 construction segments between Tribal Rd 2 and NM 147 for the Pueblo of Isleta in Valencia County
Pueblo of Isleta ($1,945,693.20) – NM 47 Two-Way Left Turn Lane Project; 3 construction segments between Tribal Rd 2 and NM147
To construct NM 47 Two-Way Left Turn Lane Project; 3 construction segments between Tribal Rd 2 and NM 147 for the Pueblo of Isleta in Valencia County
Pueblo of San Ildefonso ($1,943,693.20) – To construct Phase 2 Wastewater System for the Pueblo of San Ildefonso
To construction Phase 2 Wastewater System for the Pueblo of San Ildefonso in Santa Fe County
Jicarilla Apache Nation ($1,928,252,20) – Cutter Lateral Intertie Water Supply Project
To construct Cutter Lateral Intertie Water Supply for the Jicarilla Apache Nation in Rio Arriba County
Pueblo of Nambe ($1,476,718,20) – Wastewater System Improvements
To construct Wastewater System Improvements in the Pueblo of Nambe in Santa Fe County
Pueblo of Laguna ($106,000) – Laguna Fire Station 1 Design request
To design a Fire Station 1 for the Pueblo of Laguna in Cibola County
