The U.S. Department of Commerce announced on Tuesday that the Ute Indian Tribe has been awarded $2 million dollars in American Rescue Plan grant funds to improve and refurbish the water system on the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation. “Tribal communities were disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus pandemic,” shares Alejandra Castillo, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. “This EDA investment will create reliable infrastructure to support business and residential growth on the Uintah and Ouray Reservation.” The announcement credits the Uintah Basin Economic Development District for their planning efforts in making the project possible and clarifies that the project is funded under EDA’s American Rescue Plan Indigenous Communities program. This announcement is among the final group of funding being awarded through the American Rescue Plan. Applications were closed in May and the announcement of awards is expected to end by the end of September.
