Indian Gaming Committee Awards Grants to Local Government Agencies

Published on September 24, 2014

More than $66,000 in grant funds were awarded to local government agencies recently by the Placer County Indian Gaming Local Community Benefit Committee.

The committee distributes grant funds each year to local agencies to mitigate effects of tribal gaming. Funding comes from an Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund established by the state.

The committee includes representatives from Placer County; the cities of Roseville, Lincoln and Rocklin; and the United Auburn Indian Community, the owner and operator of the Thunder Valley Casino Resort near Lincoln.

The committee awarded:

• $15,000 to the Placer County Transportation Planning Agency for a freeway service patrol;
• $6,000 to the City of Roseville Public Works Department for a traffic-safety project that seeks to reduce motorist speeds on Fiddyment Road;
• $2,992 to the Placer County Probation Department for a Correctional Assessment Intervention System;
• $10,000 to the Placer County Adult System of Care for a screening and treatment program;
• $6,095.25 to the City of Lincoln Fire Department for wildland personal protective equipment;
• $5,400 to the City of Rocklin Fire Department for toxic atmosphere monitoring;
• $8,800 to the City of Roseville Police Department for extra patrols and Coplink, an information-sharing system used by law enforcement agencies in the greater Sacramento region;
• $6,000 to the Placer County Sexual Assault Response Team for multidisciplinary training; and
• $5,000.21 to the Placer County District Attorney’s Office for equipment for crime-scene investigations.

“I am pleased the committee was able to fund a wide variety of worthwhile projects and services this year,” said Placer County Supervisor Robert M. Weygandt, one of two county representatives on the committee.

“I also want to take this opportunity to thank the United Auburn Indian Community for its contributions to the committee and participation in a host of important causes throughout western Placer County each year.”

Supervisor Jim Holmes is the committee’s other county representative.

“It is a privilege for the United Auburn Indian Community to be able to contribute to worthy projects and programs throughout the region,” said Gene Whitehouse, Chairman of UAIC. “It is the Tribe’s hope that our efforts will help support the overall well-being of Placer County.”

Placer County, cities and special districts within the county are eligible to apply for grants if they are affected by tribal gaming.