WASHINGTON (KSNW) — Two tribal reservations in Kansas are receiving funds from a program from the Office of Indian Economic Development.
The Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, in portions of Brown and Doniphan Counties in Kansas, and Southern Richardson County in Nebraska, and The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation in Jackson County will receive funding from the Tribal Electrification Program. The program is funded by the Inflation and Reduction Act. They are two of 21 nations that are sharing $72 million that will be used to provide financial and technical assistance to connect homes to electrical transmission and distribution from renewable energy sources.
According to the Department of the Interior, at least 14% of tribal homes do not have access to electricity. That number is 10 times higher than the national average.
“Indian Country’s revitalization and future depends on Tribal households, schools and businesses having access to clean, reliable power,” said Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Bryan Newland. “The Tribal Electrification Program is important for providing Tribes a much-needed boost to their efforts of closing the access-to-electricity gap in their communities.”
The department says The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation will receive $305,000. The Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska is receiving $9,400,000.
The full list of recipients and funding amounts are:
| Tribe or Tribal Organization | State | Funding |
| Levelock Village | Alaska | $333,813 |
| Kootznoowoo, Incorporated | Alaska | $500,000 |
| Chickaloon Native Village | Alaska | $7,767,520 |
| Tanana Chiefs Conference | Alaska | $9,922,060 |
| San Carlos Apache Tribe | Arizona | $360,000 |
| Hopi Utilities Corporation | Arizona | $4,200,000 |
| Navajo Tribal Utility Authority | Arizona, New Mexico and Utah | $10,000,000 |
| Cachil Dehe Band of Wintun Indians, Colusa Rancheria | California | $250,000 |
| Santa Rosa Band of Cahuilla Indians | California | $250,000 |
| Yurok Tribe | California | $3,271,068 |
| Guidiville Rancheria of California | California | $3,552,350 |
| Shoshone Paiute Tribes | Idaho and Nevada | $525,000 |
| Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation | Kansas | $305,000 |
| Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska | Kansas | $9,400,000 |
| Bois Forte Band of Chippewa | Minnesota | $295,000 |
| Prairie Island Indian Community | Minnesota | $500,000 |
| Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians | Minnesota | $600,000 |
| Pueblo of Santa Ana | New Mexico | $14,500,000 |
| Rosebud Sioux Tribe | South Dakota | $1,000,000 |
| Quinault Indian Nation | Washington | $3,650,000 |
| Eastern Shoshone Housing Authority | Wyoming | $1,000,000 |
| Total | $72,181,811 |
To view an interactive map of current Bureau of Indian Affairs projects on tribal lands across the country, click here.
