The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (GTB) announced last week that it will distribute $643,166 in local 2% payouts for its summer allocation cycle of video gaming revenue. The amount is a signifi cant increase of more than $35,000 from the last two summer allocation cycles, which was $605,175 in 2022, and $601,770 in 2023.
Government entities in Leelanau County will receive about $213,631, the highest amount distributed to the area in the last two years. Per a government to government agreement, Leelanau County is slated to receive $44,712 for its prisoner housing contract. Another $50,000 will go to the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners for funding to support Housing North’s project to expand the rental preservation program, as well as $15,000 to help with funding for Inland Seas Education Association to retrofit the tallship Alliance for education purposes. The board of commissioners will also be given $3,680 to support the Leelanau County Historical Preservation Society in funding two new outdoor educational exhibits at the Historic Poor Farm Barn and to make the barn floor safe.
Other organizations awarded funding include Leelanau Montessori Public School Academy, which will collect $13,500 to support the cultural garden and restoration project at the school for the land-based curriculum. Leelanau Township Fire Department is getting $66,739 to replace and purchase a new Likepak Cardiac Monitor, and Suttons Bay-Bingham Fire and Rescue Authority is getting $20,000 to purchase a high pressure lift bag, a water rescue boat, and CPR manikins.
31 local units of government were awarded monies approved by the tribal council of the 45 applications received, totaling $1,380,735 in requests. The tribe operates two casinos, Leelanau Sands Casino and Lodge and Turtle Creek Casino and Hotel, and is obligated under the terms of a federal court consent decree to allocate 2% of its gaming revenue twice a year to local units of government within its vicinity. Each tribe determines which local units of government and organizations will receive payments and what those amounts will be, with compensation based on “governmental services provided to the tribes…” Since the 2% allocation began in 1994, GTB has distributed $46,967,135 to local organizations throughout the region. The tribe will make its decision regarding the second-half of 2024 2% allocations in December.
