By Laura Lewis Marchino
The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe were selected among a competitive field of applicants to each receive $500,000 in grant funding from FHLBank Topeka’s Native American Housing Initiatives (NAHI) Grants Program.
This funding will directly support critical housing projects addressing essential needs within these communities.
Cassie Alexander, vice president and senior loan officer, and Taryn Hight, vice president and mortgage loan officer, from First National Bank of Cortez, an FHLBank Topeka member, worked closely with both tribes and the Region 9 Economic Development District of Southwest Colorado to submit a successful application.
The funds will be used by the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe to rehabilitate homes in central Towaoc, focusing on health and safety improvements for families. This initiative aligns with the tribe’s broader 2024 Community Housing and Master Plan, which includes substantial housing improvements and strategic community development.
“The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe is most grateful to the Bank of Topeka for its housing improvement grant of $500,000,” said Bernadette Cuthair, director of development and planning. “This funding will help us leverage an additional $600,000 from Prop 123 funding and will make a huge difference in the quality of lives for many of our members and their families.”
“The Southern Ute Indian Tribe extends its sincere gratitude to FHLBank Topeka for this critical grant funding,” said Chairman Melvin J. Baker. “This investment will directly address the urgent need for home repairs among our tribal members, ensuring their homes are safe, healthy and secure. This grant, along with our existing programs, strengthens our commitment to providing a foundation for a thriving and resilient community.”
The Southern Ute Indian Tribe will leverage its funding to expand its rehabilitation program, prioritizing urgent home maintenance needs for tribal members to ensure safe and sustainable living conditions.
Through the 2024 NAHI Grants Program, FHLBank Topeka granted more than $5.3 million to Native American communities in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma.
Jeff Kuzbel, president and CEO of FHLBank Topeka, noted, “We are proud to continue to support Native American communities with increased funding for housing and community development. The quality and depth of the proposals we received highlight the ongoing needs within Native American commun ties. We are honored to expand our commitment to help these important populations thrive.”
For more information about the NAHI Grants Program, visit their website.
Laura Lewis Marchino is Executive Director for Region 9 Economic Development District.