The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (GTB) announced Thursday its distribution of approximately $814,480.71 of gaming revenue allocation to local units of government as part of its 2% allocation process for the second half of 2024. About $259,938 of those funds will go to agencies and programs in Leelanau County.
The Suttons Bay-Bingham Fire and Rescue Authority is receiving the largest amount of funding of Leelanau organizations totaling $66,404.38 to purchase a LifePack 35 system that can monitor a patient’s cardiac rhythm and has the ability to defibrillate, cardiovert, and pace a patient’s adverse heart rhythm.
The Leelanau Board of Commissioners received grant funding for several projects/initiatives including $59,545.19 for the Emergency Services Department to purchase four new 911 dispatch consoles, new paneling for consoles, and new carpet for the dispatch center to allow for more efficient 911 center operations. A total of $57,800 was awarded for funding to support Leelanau Christian Neighbors food pantry, as well as $44,712.50 for a “government to government agreement” prisoner housing contract. In addition, the county was awarded $12,343.16 to support the VFW Little Finger Post #7731 in repairing the post’s 80-year-old building’s main floor and making different areas handicap accessible.
Suttons Bay-Bingham District Library was awarded $14,000 to support the nonprofit PoWeR! Books Bags with its effort of providing bags with literacy materials and books to children at the Benodjenh Center, Suttons Bay Elementary, and Leelanau Montessori schools to bring home throughout the year. Empire Township received $5,133 to purchase a SCAG 72 inch 40 HP turf tiger Z-Turn mower to be used for the Empire Airport as having the grass mowed to specific lengths is a necessity for flight safety.
Since the 2% allocation began in 1994, the GTB has allocated $47,781,616.50 to local area organizations in Leelanau, Grand Traverse, and surrounding counties in the region. The tribal council voted to determine which organizations would receive allocations for this 2% cycle, with 39 of the 73 applicants being awarded. GTB will make its final decision regarding the first-half of 2025 2% allocation in July.
