The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians (GTB) announced its first 2024 distribution of gaming revenues on Friday, allocating more than $800,000 to local units of government throughout the northwest Michigan region.

Twice a year, GTB allocates 2 percent of its video gaming revenues, as stipulated in the Tribes v. Engler consent decree. For GTB, those payouts happen on or around January 31 and July 31 each year. The latest round of funds amounts to $813,546.66 and will be spread among 45 local applicants. Traverse City and Grand Traverse County grantees are detailed below.

· $3,703 to East Bay Charter Township, to support East Bay Ambulance in the replacement of an outdated CPR mannequin.

· $7,375 to Elmwood Township Fire & Rescue, “to purchase a refurbished cardiac monitor.”

· $15,000 to Greenspire High School, for the school’s robotics team. Specifically, the funding will help pay for “competition registration costs, robot material expenses, uniforms, food, lodging, and rental vehicles for team transport.”

· Seven different allocations to the Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners, including:

o   $15,000 to help the family division of the 13th Circuit Court purchase a transport vehicle “to be used to transport juveniles under court supervision to and from group community service, diversion, and experiential learning opportunities.”

o   $11,210 to support the Grand Traverse Community Enrichment Program, by way of a partnership with Significant Strives Boxing and MMA “to bring martial arts to remote communities.”

o   $15,000 to purchase a transport van for United We Smile, the dental clinic partnership between United Way, the Grand Traverse County Veterans Affairs office, and the University of Michigan’s schools of dentistry and social work. The van will help the clinic coordinate rides for patients who need transportation assistance.

o   $9,802 to support a “new miniature horse therapy program for veterans” at Reining Liberty Ranch.

o   $10,000 to help the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office with a “continued project” to replace expired AEDs (automated external defibrillators) in its patrol cars.

o   $25,000 to support TART Trails in its efforts “to repair the TART trail from Five Mile Road to the Holiday Road crossing.”

o   $59,004 to support the Women’s Resource Center in continuing to provide emergency shelter, advocacy, and support services to survivors of domestic violence.

· $8,500 to Kingsley Area Schools, to support “Project Graduation 2024,” an effort to will provide “a free, safe, and alcohol-free event for all seniors.”

· $655.85 to Long Lake Elementary School, to fund the purchase of a collection of Native American books for the school library.

· Four allocations to Northwest Education Services (North Ed), including:

o   $27,600 to support Big Brothers Big Sisters. The money will “pay for costs associated with services provided by the program for 12 mentor relationship matches.”

o   $10,000 toward a partnership between North Ed and the Child and Family Services YouthWork program.

o   $23,800 to help the Great Lakes Children’s Museum secure a new permanent location, as well as to move to a new “interim home” and build temporary exhibits. Great Lakes Children’s Museum is being displaced from its current location at Discovery Pier to make way for the development of a new freshwater research center at the site.

o   $21,500 for Michael’s Place, both “to support the growing need for bereavement services for children” in the community and to fund school-based initiatives, including school response training/planning and emergency response training for staff and volunteers.

· $19,600 to Peninsula Township, to pay for improvements at Bowers Harbor Park.

· Two grants to Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) to support the district’s School Support Network (SSN) program, which serves “more than 550 homeless students and families in transition each year.” Allocations for the SSN include:

o   $18,000 “to fund the expansion of the the program year-round and not just [during] the school year.”

o   $3,565.10 “to build a new parent engagement program that would offer free parenting classes and resources, including budgeting, meal planning, parenting skills, healthy habits and professional growth opportunities.”

· $15,000 to the Recreational Authority of Traverse City and Garfield Township, to support a SEEDS project “in replacement of their workshop roof.”

· $16,548 to the Whitewater Township Fire Department, “to purchase new structural firefighting gear which is required PPE (personal protective equipment) by the National Fire Protection Association.”