Baucus, Tester announce nearly $17 million for Montana tribes

Stimulus funding will create jobs on all seven reservations in Montana

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – All seven of Montana’s Indian reservations will receive nearly $17 million to create jobs thanks to the recently passed stimulus bill, Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester announced today.

Both Baucus and Tester helped write, supported and voted for the stimulus plan earlier this year.  The funding announced today is in addition to the approximately $1 billion Montana has received so far to create jobs by investing in infrastructure such as roads, schools, water systems, energy efficiency and education.

The stimulus bill also cuts more than $500 million in taxes for Montanans.

Baucus and Tester today said Montana tribes will receive the following funding from the Bureau of Indian Affairs:

BLACKFEET

• Road maintenance: $1,786,521

CROW

• Housing: $1,380,000 (to build 15 energy efficient homes)
• Road maintenance: $2,109,963

FLATHEAD

• Road maintenance: $1,120,504

FT. BELKNAP

• Road maintenance: $1,527,363
• Detention center maintenance: $1,100,000
• Communications: $172,000 (to upgrade north repeater)

FT. PECK

• Road maintenance: $1,140,863
• Communications: $38,606 (to upgrade RY Road tower)

NORTHERN CHEYENNE

• Road maintenance: $2,234,109
• School repairs: $1,022,038 (to replace roof, weatherization at Busby Tribal School)
• Communications: $173,820 (to upgrade Fisher Butte tower)

ROCKY BOY’S

• Road maintenance: $1,082,971

STATEWIDE

• Construction of tribal facilities: $1,494,350
• Communications: $160,744 (to upgrade Wolf Mountain tower)
• Communications: $192,389 (to upgrade Centennial Mountain tower)
• Communications: $39,167 (to upgrade Signal Hill tower)
• Communications: $40,167 (to upgrade St. Bernard tower)

TOTAL: $16,815,575

“We’ve got a lot of work to do in Montana to bring our communities up to speed and to invest in the future,” said Baucus, chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee.  “Today’s funding is another dose of good news that will create good-paying jobs in communities across the state.  And it’s a reminder that the stimulus bill is working for Montana.”

“This is another smart investment in Montana people and the infrastructure they rely on,” said Tester, a member both the Senate Appropriations and Indian Affairs Committees.  “I voted for the stimulus bill because it rebuilds our economy by creating jobs, investing in infrastructure and cutting taxes.”

On Sunday in Helena, U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced that Montana will receive nearly $3 million in additional funding for water conservation and infrastructure projects at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services sites across the state.