Red Lake Nation has received nearly $1.5 million to help prevent, prepare for and respond to COVID-19.
The money comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and its Indian Community Development Block Grant – specifically its Imminent Threat Funding program.
The first round of grant recipients of this fund was announced in early July.
The Red Lake grant comes as part of the fifth round.
In total there’s 100 million dollars available in this fund, known as the ICDBG-CARE grant, and it will be dispersed to applicants on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Depending on how the pandemic unfolds, the last $20 million in grants may instead be dispersed to those whose need is most critical.
The fund aims to help Indian Country with prevention and response to COVID-19.
Applicants can use the money to build transitional quarantine housing for those infected with coronavirus or to establish an emergency operational center, among other uses.
Red Lake Comprehensive Health, the health provider for the Red Lake Nation, says it plans to use Its ICDBG-CARE grant money to purchase three modular homes for medical staff and two ambulances.
The remainder of the money will be used for testing and diagnostic equipment, personal protective equipment and two-way radios.
As of September 2nd, the Red Lake Emergency Response Team has confirmed 51 total COVID-19 cases. All have recovered.
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