Tulare County committee seeks Indian gaming grant applications
More than $268,000 in grant funding is up for grabs for interested special districts and local governments impacted by tribal gaming.
The Tulare County Indian Gaming Local Community Benefit Committee is seeking grant applications from these parties who can mitigate impacts related to Eagle Mountain Casino on the Tule River Reservation.
Senate Bill 621, which was passed on Jan. 1, 2004, makes grant funding available to counties, cities and special districts impacted by tribal gaming from the Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund. Gaming tribes that operated 200 or more gaming devices on or before Sept. 1, 1999, contribute a variable portion of their net winnings into the fund. In Tulare County, the Tule River Tribe contributes winnings from Eagle Mountain Casino. The seven-member Tulare County committee is responsible for selecting these grants. The Tule River Tribe must sponsor the grants and affirm that the proposed grant projects have a reasonable relationship to the impacts of their casino, in addition to other requirements.
In Tulare County, $268,177.87 in grant funding is available for distribution in the upcoming fiscal year.
The committee has posted the application forms, selection criteria and other explanatory materials on the Tulare County website.
Applications must be submitted to the committee staff by April 5 in order to be considered.
There will be a voluntary grant application workshop available for applicants at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 20, at Porterville City Hall, 291 N. Main St.
The committee will evaluate grant proposals and weigh their merits based on state guidelines that give priority to: law enforcement, fire services, emergency medical services, roads, public health, recreation and youth programs, waste disposal and water supplies, child care programs, mitigating environmental impacts and behavioral health.
Previous projects funded include road repairs, public safety equipment and health education programs.
Last year, the city of Porterville received $104,000 to support the city’s police and fire departments and Sierra View Healthcare District was awarded $30,000 to expand its diabetes education and prevention program.
Completed grant applications should be mailed to Jed Chernabaeff or John Hess, committee staff members at 2800 W. Burrel Ave., Visalia, CA 93291. For questions about the grant process, staff can be reached at 636-5005.
