Jena Band of Choctaw Indians in Louisiana awarded grant for environmental programs

The Jena Band of Choctaw Indians in Louisiana recently received a $95,000 General Assistance Program (GAP) grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to further their efforts to address environmental problems.
GAP funding stems from the 1992 Indian Environmental General Assistance Program Act, in which Congress gave the EPA authority to provide federally recognized tribes and tribal groups with funding for environmental protection programs. The funding can also go toward solid and hazardous waste programs in Indian lands. While GAP grants are primarily used to develop core tribal environmental protection programs, it can also be used for environmental training or conducting community research.
The Jena Band of Choctaw Indians will the funding for the administration of their environmental programs and to develop multimedia programs that will be employed in the tribe’s efforts to address environmental issues.