Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $2 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds to Improve Water Supply on Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation in Northeast Utah

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2 million grant to the Ute Indian Tribe, Fort Duchesne, Utah, to improve and refurbish the water system in support of economic development. This grant is funded by the American Rescue Plan’s Indigenous Communities program.

This project will clean and refurbish two collection systems and add three new wells, providing a reliable water source to support business growth.

“President Biden is committed to supporting Tribal communities in their recovery from the coronavirus pandemic,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This EDA investment will provide the infrastructure necessary to facilitate economic development and growth for the Ute Indian Tribe.”

“Tribal communities were disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus pandemic,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This EDA investment will create reliable infrastructure to support business and residential growth on the Uintah and Ouray Reservation.”

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Uintah Basin Economic Development District (EDD). EDA funds the Uintah Basin EDD to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment and create jobs.

This project is funded under EDA’s American Rescue Plan Indigenous Communities program, which allocates $100 million in American Rescue Plan funding specifically to support the needs of Tribal Governments and Indigenous communities. The program supports these partners to develop and execute economic development projects they need to recover from the pandemic and build economies for the future. Indigenous communities are also eligible and encouraged to apply under all of EDA’s other programs. Effective May 26, 2022, EDA has officially closed all of its American Rescue Plan programs for applications. The $3 billion program funding will be awarded on a rolling basis through September 30, 2022.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.