Tribe wins statewide award for project of the year

By Danielle Harrison

Smoke Signals editor

The Tribe was recently honored with a 2025 Project of the Year Award from the American Public Works Association for its Early Care and Education Center.

Tribal Engineering & Community Development Department Manager Ryan Webb accepted the award on behalf of the Tribe at a ceremony in Bend this past fall with project contractor Triplett Wellman.

“I am always beyond proud and grateful to serve the Tribe and its membership,” Webb said. “I get gratitude and thanks from Tribal employees, council and members, not just for this project but for all the projects I have completed, that is always extremely rewarding.”

The award was given out for the structural category of projects costing less than $25 million.

“Your project was selected after review by the awards committee as being most deserving of this award,” an APWA email stated. “Congratulations on being selected.”

The Early Care and Education Center is the newest Tribal campus building and was completed in March 2025. The 26,000-square-foot facility services the Early Childhood Education Program for children from birth to 5 years old. It includes 12 classrooms, outdoor play areas, a community room, 16 administrative offices, large commercial kitchen and other support areas. It provides the opportunity to combine early childhood services under one roof instead of across multiple buildings on the Tribal campus.

The program serves approximately 100 children and includes 50-plus staff members. Funding for the project came from a combination of American Rescue Plan Act monies, grants from foundations and Tribal dollars.

Webb noted that the project award was significant as it was given by a national association.

“It showcases this project on a national level, it highlights the Tribe’s priorities for the membership and community and sets the example of what success looks like,” he said. “The Early Care and Education building was a successful project because of the hard work and dedication from everyone who touched this project. As great as this recognition is, the true reward is walking through the hallways of that building and seeing the kids laugh and play and enjoy their new space.”