North Bend, OR – The Coquille Tribal Community Fund
board of trustees announced the fund is distributing more
than a half-million dollars to 55 community organizations
in four Southwest Oregon counties.
A total of $514,205 was provided to social service and
educational programs as well as projects directed at public
safety and community development.
The Coquille Indian Tribe established the community fund
in 2001 as a way to share profits from The Mill Casino • Hotel
with community organizations. Since its inception, the
fund has distributed over $1.3 million to support charitable
efforts throughout the region.
"The Coquilles, like other Tribal peoples, have a history
of giving and sharing with our neighbors," said Ed Metcalf,
Coquille Tribal Council chairman. "It is extremely rewarding
to see the positive effects that these grants bring about."
The 55 individual awards mark the greatest number of grants
issued by the Fund in a single year. Grant awards ranged
from $1,500 to $65,000.
"This year we were able to assist more organizations than
has ever been possible in our five-year history," said
Michele Burnette, chair of the fund's board of trustees. "This
has been a wonderful opportunity to meet the many needs
in our communities and touch so many lives."
In addition to grants for social service agencies, the
Fund continued to invest in infrastructure improvements
in the Bay Area. Coos County's Salmon Trout Enhancement
Program (STEP) received $65,000, the largest grant this
year, toward construction of a hatchery facility. A grant
of $25,000 will go toward improvements at the North Bend
Municipal Swimming Pool.
Investments in public safety infrastructure include a
$31,000 grant for the Coquille Indian Tribe to erect two
tsunami warning sirens – one on the Tribe's Administration
Office and one on its Empire property. The warnings will
serve most of North Bend and areas not covered by the Charleston
Fire Department. Other public safety grants provide over
$26,000 to equip a dunes rescue van for the Hauser Rural
Fire Department and over $18,000 to fund two police canine
units and training for the Coos Bay Police Department.
The Coquille Tribal Community Fund supports non-profit
and governmental organizations with projects in the areas
of education, health, public safety, problem gaming, environmental
issues, arts and culture and historic preservation. Funds,
derived from a percentage of revenues from The Mill Casino • Hotel,
are managed and distributed by a board of trustees comprised
of community leaders, a gubernatorial appointee and representatives
of the Coquille Indian Tribe and the Coquille Economic
Development Corporation.
The fund reflects the commitment of the Coquille Indian
Tribe to take a proactive, positive role in the well-being
of the community. The Tribe is the is among the largest
employers in Coos County, and, through CEDCO, manages The
Mill Casino • Hotel along with business ventures in
assisted living, organic cranberry farming and high-speed
telecommunications.
For organizations wishing to be considered for the next
round of funding, the deadline for applications is Aug.
31, 2006. For more information, contact the fund at info@coquilletribalfund.org.
The following organizations received funds this year.
- Bay Area First Step – for playground equipment
and housing.
- Bay Area Rotary "Shots for Tots" – for shots for
un-insured children.
- Bay Area Senior Activity Center – to replace kitchen
fire-suppression system.
- Boys and Girls Club of SW Oregon – for fencing
for outside play area.
- Camp Myrtlewood – for renovations to camp kitchen.
- CARE Connections –to train child care providers.
- CASA of Coos County – for staff support to serve
15 more children.
- Charleston Community Enhancement Corporation –to
repair the Fisherman's Memorial.
- City and Port of Bandon –toward a walkway from
Old Town to South Jetty.
- City of Coos Bay –toward replacement of Choshi
Bridge.
- Clyde Allen Baseball Committee – to complete entryway
and dugouts.
- Coos Art Museum – for an exhibition and workshop.
- Coos Bay Area Habitat for Humanity – Challenge
grant for building 16 th house.
- Coos Bay Police Department – for two canine units
and training.
- Coos Council Knights of Columbus – for Christmas
food baskets.
- Coos County Historical Society – for computer
and educational supplies.
- Coos County S.T.E.P. – for construction of a hatchery
facility.
- Coquille Indian Tribe – for two tsunami warning
systems.
- Curry County Historical Society – for containers
for storing artifacts.
- Douglas County Neighbor to Neighbor – for mediation
services.
- Ecumenical Emergency Food Cupboard – to purchase
food.
- Florence Habitat for Humanity – toward building
houses.
- Ford Family Foundation Leadership Class #2 – for
a handicap accessible walkway at Camp Myrtlewood.
- Friends of Animals with Needs – to spay/neuter
feral cats.
- Hauser Rural Fire Department – to equip a dunes
rescue van.
- Lane County Legal Aid – for legal assistance and
outreach to low-income victims.
- Little Theatre on the Bay – toward a special needs
restroom.
- Lower Umpqua Community Center – for a wheelchair
access door.
- Marshfield Sun Association – for archival of newspapers.
- Myrtle Point Lions – to purchase toys.
- Myrtle Point School Music Department – toward
purchase of acoustic shells and risers.
- Nancy Devereux Center, Inc. – to provide illness
management classes.
- North Bend Municipal Swimming Pool – for swimming
pool improvements.
- Oregon Coast Technology School – to support the
Tech Team.
- Pacific Center for Children – for computers and
software.
- Point Man Ministries – for Safeway certificates
and care packages.
- Port Orford Arts Council – for Native American
art classes.
- Port Orford Police Department – to purchase materials
for "Let's Talk" program.
- Port Orford Public Library – to furnish a new
community room.
- Powers Food Bank – to purchase food.
- Powers School District – for its hot lunch program.
- S.C.B.E.C. Coos-Curry Senior Nutrition Program – to
deliver hot meals to homebound seniors.
- S.M.A.R.T. – to purchase books for children.
- Seventh Day Adventist Food Bank – to paint food
bank and purchase food.
- South Coast Alano Club, Inc. – to modernize and
upgrade building.
- South Coast Community Garden – to construct garden
plots for low income.
- Southern Coos Health District – to purchase a
podiatry chair.
- Southwestern Oregon Community Action Housing and Emergency
Services – for its emergency rental program.
- Star of Hope – toward purchase of sweeper and
parking lot striper.
- Triangle Food Box – to purchase food.
- Triangle Food Box – toward truck maintenance.
- Umpqua Community Development Corporation – for
playground equipment.
- University of Oregon Southwest Oregon Research Project
(S.W.O.R.P.) – to enhance and develop its archival
collection.
- U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 51 – for a
screen and projector for boater education.
- Women's Safety and Resource Center – to support groups
and new building project.
