The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians will distribute $1.66 million to local governments and non-profits this year.
Tribal organizations that operate casinos in Michigan are obligated by state compact to distribute 2% of their video poker and slot machine revenue to local government and non-profit organizations within the community.
Payments are made twice per year, and they offer a significant boost to local community efforts.
Checks totaling almost $750,000 were distributed to local governments and non-profits last month. It’s the final portion of the $1.66 million total dollars paid out this year. That’s up slightly from the $1.4 million the tribe has averaged over the last six years.
Page Paul is the legal affairs administrator for the tribe. She says the allocations come as a payment in lieu of taxation.
“Our casinos are on trust land, so they’re not taxed,” said Paul.
Read the full list of 2% allocation recipients here.
Because the tribe uses government amenities such as 9-1-1 dispatch, road repairs, jail and ambulance services, the 2% allocations offer money to fund those services, as well as other community development projects.
St. James Township, which covers the north end of Beaver Island, Hog Island, Garden Island, and High Island received a check for $8,000 dollars last month. The money will be used to install two underground water tanks buried below the frost line. The fire department will be able to draw water from these tanks to put out fires in the wintertime, when the lake is frozen over.
Bobbi Welke is the St. James Township Supervisor. She says the tribes’ 2% allocations have been helping the island since 1999.
“They’ve given nearly $500,000 to Beaver Island,” she said.
The allocations have funded a medevac system, senior housing projects, education programs, and repairs to a Veterans memorial.
In 2006, the township received $20,000 to install communication equipment so emergency responders could connect across the island.
In 2019, the township received $25,000 to improve one of the island’s marinas.
They received almost $90,000 in 2000 for repaving projects and to build a new community center.
“From a living point of view, safety point of view, Veterans point of view, it’s just awesome,” said Welke.
The tribe’s largest allocation this year went to the Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS). The school district received $129,000 to support its Title IV Indigenous Education Program.
Since the 2% allocations began in 1994, the Grand Traverse Band has distributed over $50 million to local organizations.
The next round of distributions is scheduled for early 2027. Organizations interested in applying can click here.
