Tribal Council approves seven grant applications

By Dean Rhodes

Smoke Signals editor

Tribal Council approved seven grant applications during its Wednesday, April 29, meeting that included two requests for COVID-19 pandemic aid, two for the planned Salem clinic to combat opioid addiction with medication-assisted treatment and three for educational purposes.

The two grant applications for coronavirus pandemic help were to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board for approximately $63,000 in funds to treat Tribal Elders affected by the coronavirus and through the Health Resources & Services Administration for $300,000 that would hire and train two health promotion specialists to provide outreach to Tribal Elders regarding the coronavirus.

The latter grant application is competitive and 50 Tribes will be selected, Planning & Grants Manager Kim Rogers said during the Tuesday, April 28, Legislative Action Committee meeting.

Two other grant applications would help the Tribe establish a medication-assisted treatment clinic to treat opioid addiction on Commercial Street in Salem.

An application to the Indian Health Service would help pay for a portion of the equipment and furniture at the clinic while an application to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration would help fund staff and consultant time and supplies.

Tribal Council approved a purchase and sale agreement for the Commercial Street property during its April 1 meeting. The purchase price was not disclosed.

Finally, Tribal Council approved applying for three grants from the Oregon Department of Education’s Early Learning Division to help fund pre-kindergarten, preschool and early childhood programs for underserved children under the age of 5.

In other action, Tribal Council approved an interim intergovernmental agreement with the Mid-Willamette Valley Homeless Alliance, which includes Marion and Polk counties, the cities of Independence, Keizer, Monmouth and Salem, the Salem-Keizer School District and the Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments.

Tribal Council also OK’d the agenda for the 11 a.m. Sunday, May 3, virtual General Council meeting that will discuss emergency management and preparedness. The General Council meeting will be held via the Zoom teleconferencing program.

"I guess we're making history," said Vice Chair Chris Mercier about the Tribe's first virtual General Council meeting.

The entire 10 a.m. Tribal Council meeting can be viewed by visiting the Tribal government’s website at www.grandronde.org and clicking on the Government icon and then Videos.