SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwire - May 15, 2012) - The Barona Band of Mission Indians and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation and other representatives from the Indian Gaming Local Community Benefit Committee recently announced local recipients of more than $1.5 million in grants from Tribal money paid into the State Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund.
The committee assessed grant applications from throughout the county and selected several local communities and public safety projects to fund. Representatives from the groups receiving grants were present at the meeting.
"The Barona Band of Mission Indians is proud to share a substantial portion of this year's funds with public safety and health care service agencies that protect and serve us in what are often very dangerous conditions," said Edwin "Thorpe" Romero, Tribal Chairman of the Barona Band of Mission Indians. "And, with so many government budget cuts in these critical needs areas, we really wanted to allocate the grants where they are needed the most right now."
After assessing the needs of local communities and the recommendations of the Indian Gaming Local Benefit Committee, the following projects were selected:
| County #1: | Dept. of Parks and Recreation - Stelzer Park Operations -- $9,597 | |
| County #4: | HHSA - Child Welfare Services - Spirit of the Family -- $160,000 | |
| County #8: | DPW - Dehesa Road Rubberized Asphalt -- $400,000 | |
| County #9: | DPW - Wildcat Canyon Road Rubberized Asphalt -- $171,456.91 | |
| SD Sheriff #18: | Alpine/Viejas Solar LED Portable Message Sign -- $17,590.74 | |
| SD Sheriff #11: | Santee Automated License Plate Reader -- $32,410.05 | |
| SD Sheriff #12: | Alpine/Sycuan Automated License Plate Reader --$19,944.64 | |
| SD Sheriff #14: | Law Enforcement of Tribal Lands -- $75,793.91 | |
| SD Sheriff #16: | Alpine/Viejas Digital Hand Held Video Receiver -- $9,771.18 | |
| SD Sheriff #17: | Alpine/Viejas Automated License Plate Reader -- $19,944.64 | |
| Lakeside Fire #19: | Lakeside Fire Patrol Unit -- $104,055 | |
| Ramona Fire #21: | Ambulance Purchase -- $210,000 | |
| El Cajon #22: | Marshall Ave. Pavement Resurfacing -- $38,250 | |
| El Cajon #23: | Fire Dept. Fire Apparatus Replacement -- $88,500 | |
| Grossmont #25: | Sharp Grossmont Hospital Cath Lab Upgrade -- $170,200 | |
| TOTAL: $1,527,514.07 | ||
"Sycuan is proud to be a part of funding beneficial community projects that will enhance road safety, law enforcement, and child welfare services," said Sycuan Chairman Daniel Tucker. "It is an honor to give back to the people of San Diego."
The members of the Indian Gaming Local Community Benefit Committee include San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, El Cajon Mayor Mark Lewis, Sheriff Bill Gore and County Chief Financial Officer Don Steuer. Tribal representatives on the committee include Edwin "Thorpe" Romero, Tribal Chairman of the Barona Band of Mission Indians; Sheilla Alvarez of the Barona Band of Mission Indians; and Adam Day of the Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Indians.
The Special Distribution Fund was created after California voters overwhelmingly passed Proposition 1A, an amendment to the California constitution which authorized the State to enter into compacts with Indian Tribes for limited forms of gaming, in March of 2000. The compacts require tribes, which were engaged in gaming in 1999, to pay into the Special Distribution Fund. During the compact negotiations, Barona and Sycuan worked together to ensure that a portion of the money the Tribes pay into the fund would be used to directly benefit San Diego County.
Contact Information:
CONTACT:
Barona
Sheilla Alvarez
619-402-0182
Sycuan
Adam Day
619-994-4855