Tribe receives $500,000 grant to build police station

The Grand Ronde Tribe received a $500,000 federal grant to help build a new Tribal police station.

William Block, Northwest regional administrator with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, sent a letter to Tribal Council Chairman Reyn Leno informing the Tribe of the award on Sept. 29.

Tribal Council approved in July applying for the $500,000 Indian Community Development block grant to design and build a new police station in Grand Ronde.

The current modular building near Spirit Mountain Casino is 1,443 square feet and too small for the current police and emergency services staff. It also lacks a holding cell and evidence room.

Tribal Engineer Jesse White worked with Grand Ronde Police Chief Al LaChance on the design and $960,000 estimate for the 3,900-square-foot project. The block grant will cover more than half that cost with a $167,000 match provided by the Grand Ronde Tribal Housing Authority and at least $40,000 in Tribal funds for the otherwise ineligible police administration space share.

Tribal Planning & Grants Manager Kim Rogers said the Tribe can apply to the U.S. Department of Justice and other grant agencies to help cover the balance of the cost, or use Tribal funds if the grant applications are unsuccessful.

In July, Grand Ronde Police Chief Al LaChance said he favors locating a new police station either on the Tribal campus near the Governance Center or next to the fire station on Grand Ronde Road. These site options were included in the grant application to help qualify for the grant and a thorough options analysis will now be prepared, Rogers said.

In addition, Rogers said, the Tribe also received a $300,000 U.S. Department of Justice COPS grant to cover the cost of another police officer for three years, as well as some funding for supplies and training.