Biz ‘Bite:’ Coeur d’Alene Tribe lands $3M water grant

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The U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded the Coeur d’Alene Tribe $3 million for the replacement of the aging and undersized water supply system in De Smet, a small unincorporated community in Benewah County. The grant is funded through $100 million allocated to the American Rescue Plan Indigenous Communities program to support the economic development and pandemic recovery needs of Tribal governments and Indigenous communities.

“Tribal communities were disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus pandemic,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo in the announcement for the grant. “This project is essential to job growth and economic diversity in the region.”

“The Coeur d’Alene Tribe is our partner in stewarding North Idaho waterways and ensuring their long-term economic benefit to rural communities,” said Gov. Brad Little in a statement. “This project, coupled with the $80 million investments in Coeur d’Alene Lake from my Leading Idaho plan, will enable the tribe to continue making meaningful improvements to North Idaho’s most valuable resource — water.”