National

Tribal comment sought for final round of Promise Zone initiative

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

President Barack Obama speaks to the Choctaw Nation in Durant, Oklahoma, on July 15, 2015. Photo by Choctaw Nation / Facebook

The Obama administration is asking tribes for input for the third and final round of the Promise Zone program.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Agriculture will host a webinar next Wednesday, August 12, to hear from tribes about the application and selection process. Written comments can also be submitted through September 28.

"This is an opportunity for stakeholders to provide feedback and suggestions on how federal agencies can better work in partnership with local leaders in high-poverty communities to leverage private investments that create jobs, increase economic activity, improve affordable housing, increase educational opportunities, and reduce violent crime," the USDA said today.

The Choctaw Nation broke ground on a new health clinic in Durant, Oklahoma, with help from the Promise Zone program. Photo from Choctaw Nation

The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma was the first in Indian Country selected for the program. Since the designation in January 2014, more than $58 million in federal funds have flowed into a 10-county area in the southeastern part of the state.

The money has been used to start work on a 100,000 square-foot medical campus in Durant, to build a new health clinic in nearby Boswell and to help public schools and local communities with equipment, facilities and other needs. President Barack Obama visited the tribe last month and talked about the efforts.

Obama described the tribe as one of the "areas where the federal government is partnering with local communities and businesses to jumpstart economic development and job creation, expand educational opportunities, and increase affordable housing, and improve public safety. And as a result, you’ve already received federal investments in Early Head Start, to make sure our young people are getting the best possible beginning in life; child care, job training, support for young entrepreneurs."

Nick Tilson, Executive Director of Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation, and Lenny Lone Hill, Construction Trainer at Thunder Valley, assist Oglala Sioux youth in breaking ground on a housing and retail project on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

The Oglala Sioux Tribe of South Dakota was selected this year. The Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation is serving as the lead agency for similar efforts on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

"It’s not about building homes it’s about building people and empowering families to take responsibility for their future," Thunder Valley executive director said at a groundbreaking for a housing and retail project in June, The Native Sun News reported. "We want to give our people a hand up and not a hand out."

The process for the final round of the program will begin this fall an and announcement of the designees is expected in spring of 2016. Only one tribal community will be selected, according to HUD and USDA.

Federal Register Notice:
Promise Zones Initiative: Proposed Third Round Selection Process Solicitation of Comment (July 29, 2015)