U.S. Department of Commerce Supports Makah Indian Tribe with $4.1 Million Grant for Infrastructure Improvements
WASHINGTON – In a significant move to bolster infrastructure and support job creation, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo, announced a $4.1 million grant awarded by the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to the Makah Indian Tribe in Neah Bay, Washington. This grant is intended for the enhancement of wastewater infrastructure on the Makah Indian Reservation.
The funding is directed towards the development of a new climate-resilient wastewater collection system. This strategic investment is projected to aid in mitigating the economic repercussions of future natural disasters and is expected to generate or retain over 70 jobs, based on estimates provided by the grantee.
Secretary Raimondo remarked, “The Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America Agenda is providing critical infrastructure upgrades to ensure that local communities in Washington state can create good-paying jobs. This EDA investment will help get the Makah Tribe the resources needed to make sure their community is resilient in the face of future natural disasters.”
Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, Cristina Killingsworth, stated, “The Economic Development Administration works closely with local communities to support place-based economic growth. This project will provide critical infrastructure improvements to help diversify the regional economy and create jobs.”
Senator Patty Murray expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative, emphasizing the importance of these improvements given the increasing frequency of extreme weather events. “This award is exciting news for the Makah Tribe—as frontline communities in Washington state increasingly face extreme weather events, these water infrastructure improvements will help the Makah Tribe better respond to future natural disasters, while creating dozens of local jobs,” she said.
Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-6) also lauded the grant, noting, “I’m thrilled to see this new federal funding heading to the Makah Indian Nation to support their efforts to construct a climate-resilient wastewater collection network. This project will create jobs – and help make critical infrastructure upgrades in Neah Bay.”
This initiative is financed under the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023, which allocated an additional $483 million to the EDA’s Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program. This funding serves disaster relief and recovery for regions that were declared major disaster areas under the Robert T. Stafford Act, due to natural disasters such as Hurricanes Ian and Fiona, wildfires, and flooding occurring in 2021 and 2022. Further details can be found on the EDA’s Disaster Supplemental webpage.
