Monday, September 19th 2016
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack today announced funding to help the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians with infrastructure for four essential community facilities, ranging from public safety to health care and including funds to construct a new chemical dependency treatment center in wake of the rural opioid epidemic. Funding is provided through USDA's Community Facilities program. USDA Rural Development has awarded a $4,950,000 direct loan to Red Lake Band to build a new Chemical Dependency Treatment Center. The new 20,123-sq.-ft. facility will be equipped with 16 beds, group meeting rooms, and visitation areas - providing a safe, sanitary environment to help treat tribal members suffering from substance misuse and chemical dependency. In January, President Obama tapped Secretary Vilsack to lead an interagency task force focused on the rural opioid epidemic. Recent efforts have helped identify effective tools to reduce drug use and overdose, including evidence-based prevention programs, prescription drug monitoring, medication-assisted treatment and the overdose reversal drug naloxone. The funding for this treatment center is another example of the USDA's efforts to address the opioid epidemic. Since 2009, USDA has significantly expanded its support for Tribes and Tribal communities, providing $3.1 billion in Rural Development programs and services. USDA has provided more than $553.5 million in loans, loan guarantees and grants to build or upgrade more than 300 Tribal facilities, and $55 million in loans to support Native-owned businesses and promote economic development in Tribal areas.