Tribal Council approves multiple federal grant applications, makes emergency declaration

By Danielle Harrison

Smoke Signals editor

Tribal Council approved multiple federal grant applications during its Wednesday, Nov. 5, meeting.

During a Tuesday, Nov. 4, Legislative Action Committee meeting,  Wendy Sparks said that the grants team is adhering to the original grant application deadlines and that applications will be evaluated after the government reopens.

The first one introduced was the Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Multipurpose Grant for up to $4 million over five years. The Tribe has been a previous recipient of this grant for site assessment and cleanup at its tumwata village project in Oregon City.  

“Because we have experienced several changes to the length of the application period for many federal grants, such as shortening the application window from months to weeks, I wanted to get this in front of you now so that way we have it on hand when the application opens,” Sparks said. “We’ve received that grant in the past and successfully completed the scope of work.”

Tribal Engineering & Community Development Department Manager Ryan Webb said the grant will be used to conduct continued environmental cleanup activities necessary to restore the tumwata village site for future development.

“It would really be a continuation of the work that we have done onsite,” he said. “This is more focused on cleanup activities, whereas the previous one included investigation and assessment work as well cleanup activities. As we move forward with new construction on the site, whether that’s streets, utilities or buildings, we know there’s going to be a level of contamination within that subsurface that we will have to remediate when we construct, and so this grant will help us with removing that contaminated material, putting clean fill back in and it has the ability to help us with any abatement work that is needed related to any of the structures for hazardous materials.”

Tribal Council member Matthew Haller asked if given the uncertainty in the current Trump administration and the knowledge that the Tribe has had a grant rescinded this past year, if the planned environmental cleanup would begin as soon as funds are made available.

“With the Brownfield funding, it’s been reappropriated and so even with the government shutdown and the Big Beautiful Bill, this funding has been very steady throughout decades now,” Webb said. “I think the government takes seriously the work that it does, not from an environmental standpoint but from an economic development standpoint because it allows a lot of regeneration to happen in towns and cities.”

The other three approved grant applications were for up to $500,000 for the Oregon Department of Human Servies Tribal Survivors Investment Partnership, up to $137,000 for the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care for the Early Childhood Equity Fund and up to $500,000 for the HUD Indian Community Development Block Grant.

Tribal Council also declared a state of emergency due to the continuing federal government shutdown and loss of benefits such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program.

“The lack of such benefits will significantly increase hunger, food insecurity, health and safety concerns for our families in need, including children, Elders and individuals with disabilities,” Tribal Council Secretary Jon A. George said. “It is important for the Tribe to take extra care in looking out for our Elders and family members during their time of need.”

The declaration follows other Oregon Tribes such as Siltez, Klamath and Umatilla, who all passed similar measures.

The state of emergency will be terminated when federal benefits are reinstated.

The council also approved emergency food assistance for Tribal member individuals and households who have been affected by the delay of SNAP benefits. Individuals are eligible to receive a one-time payment of $150 and households with two or more people will receive $400. Applications will be available at www.grandronde.org starting at 8 a.m. Friday, Nov. 7 and at the Tribe’s Social Services Department. Applications close at 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24. Applicants must be able to provide verification of SNAP benefits. 

In other action, Tribal Council:

• Approved partial funding of up to $120,000 offered by the Higher Education Coordinating Committee for partial funding of the Tribe’s Natural Resources Department summer youth crew in 2026-27;
• Approved an amendment to the memorandum of agreement with Indian Health Service for phase two of the Tipsu-ili’i Tribal homeownership development;
• And approved enrolling three infants, 26 non-infants, one emergency non-infant and reenrolling one non-infant into the Tribe because they meet the requirements under the Tribal Constitution and Enrollment Ordinance; and approved one voluntary enrollment relinquishment.

To watch the entire meeting, visit www.grandronde.org and click on the Videos tab.