Dear Tribal Membership,
Over the course of the pandemic, with your insights and feedback, Tribal Council, alongside the many people who work within our Tribal Government and Business Enterprises, has worked hard to provide support, services and funding to fill the needs of Tribal Membership.
We are tremendously grateful for the commitment and effort by everyone who did their very best to provide for immediate needs during the worst of the pandemic. As we look to invest in the Tribe’s future and build a foundation for Membership going forward, we had to make some difficult decisions on how to spend the remaining $24 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) federal funds.
We’ve held a series of Tribal Membership input meetings on how and where to invest the ARPA funds. Tribal Council applied your input along with federal regulations on how and where these funds could be spent legally. By investing in allowable areas under the federal funding usage guidelines, we worked to protect the Tribe from having to pay back federal funds, if they were misspent, along with potential penalties and other expenses.
Tribal Council ARPA Fund Investments So Far
Tribal Council already has invested some of the ARPA funds to work through the worst of the pandemic. You will see below where the money was invested. We followed the guidance within the US Department of Treasury's ARPA Interim Final Rule on allowable areas of investment.
Tribal Council ARPA Funds Already Invested:
LDF Household Assistance Aug 2021
Cost $10,211,200 plus fee’s related to the application ($1,318.00)
LOTC Covid sick pay reimbursement
Cost $104,120
BDC Covid sick pay reimbursement
Cost $48,888
Simpsons Covid sick pay reimbursement
Cost $56,777
Land Management Land Purchase
Cost $300,000
GLITC –Adolescent Wellness Treatment Center Land Purchase
Donation $50,000
ARPA Funds Spent: $10,772,303.00
ARPA Funds Unspent: $24,218,916.54
Tribal Council Investments of Remaining $24,218,916.54 ARPA Funds
Following the latest ARPA Membership Funding Meeting held June 2, 2022, the Tribal Council voted to invest the remaining balance of $24,218,916.54 in ARPA funds in the following areas:
Land Purchases:
To increase land base for housing development, economic development, hunting and gathering and recreational areas.
Cost $3,000,000
Natural Resource/ Hatchery improvements:
For necessary repairs and improvements to include water pumps, generators and hatchery upgrades.
Cost $1,000,000
Water and Sewer Improvements
Upgrade lift stations, pumps and other necessary equipment.
Cost $600,000
Tribal Roads Equipment Improvements
For necessary equipment needed for snow and ice removal, road repair and construction and natural disaster removal and clean up.
Cost $3,100,000
Housing: Chippewa Housing Authority:
Request from CHA New home builds and rehab of existing homes.
Cost $4,922,680
Facility Improvement
Example would be the Old Bingo Hall repurpose.
Cost $1,000,000
Contribution to General Fund Budget.
Cost: $7,000,000
General Fund Fy24
Contribution to General Fund Budget
Cost: $3,596,236.54
In efforts to keep the financial health of the Tribe stable while planning and prepping the Tribe’s General Fund budget for Fy 23 and Fy 24, the Tribal Council sees the need to expense some of the ARPA funds towards the General Fund for the next 2 fiscal years. This is allowable under treasury guidelines. The pandemic took a financial toll on Tribal finances and we see this allowable investment as a means of ensuring Tribal Services remain available for Membership as we continue to emerge from the effects of the pandemic.
How did we get here?
Through the pandemic, we’ve worked to shift priorities and funding within our operations to take care of as many immediate needs as possible to provide support to Tribal Members. We’ve worked with federal and state agencies, as well as nonprofits and other groups to provide a wide array of financial, food, energy, water and other services support during the pandemic.
No doubt, we all have gone from a somewhat predictable daily life before the pandemic to a life filled with unknowns during the pandemic to a future life with challenges and opportunities yet-to-be experienced.
We are doing our best to invest in areas that will allow the Tribe to operate most effectively on behalf of Tribal Membership as we emerge from the pandemic. We will continue to work with our federal, state and other partners to continue to address the needs of our Tribal Membership. We appreciate your ongoing support and insights. We will continue to communicate with Tribal Membership as we battle the effects of the pandemic. Miigwech!
Respectfully,
President John D. Johnson, Sr.
Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians/
On behalf of Tribal Council
