Shakopee, Minnesota - The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community announces a $1 million grant to the Spirit Lake Tribe of North Dakota for economic development. The grant will fund seven different tribal projects:

$467,225 will be used to complete construction of a new tribal courthouse, after the original structure was destroyed by fire.
The Spirit Lake Tribal Planning Department will receive $150,000 to address the components of the Tribe’s Strategic Plan, which identifies five priorities: substance abuse, housing, recreation, employment, and emergency response.
$120,000 is for roof repairs to the St. Michael and Woodlake recreation centers which were built in the 1970s and 1980s, respectively. These centers are a haven to many youth particularly in the winter months and provide ongoing activities throughout the year.
$106,000 is for Tribal infrastructure development. With the donation, the Finance Department will upgrade their current computer system and provide training in budgeting, financial policies, and procedures.
Cankdeska Cikana Community College, the Spirit Lake Dakota Nation’s tribal college, will receive $72,755 for its Fine Arts Center and for purchase of computers for the Language Preservation Program.
Dakota Tribal Industries, a wholly owned defense contracting company, will receive a $60,000 grant to complete roof repairs. Dakota Tribal Industries employees 80 individuals.
The Spirit Lake Tribal Enrollment Department will receive $24,000 for the purchase of software to accurately maintain the enrollment of its tribal members and enable the department to work more efficiently with other programs within the Spirit Lake Tribe.

The Spirit Lake Nation has more than 6,339 enrolled members living on a reservation which covers 405 square miles in east central North Dakota. The unemployment rate hovers near 60%. Since the year 2000 the SMSC has donated more than $4.4 million to the Spirit Lake Nation.

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