Prior Lake, MN – The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community today announced two grants and two pledges to the National Indian Gaming Association, headquartered in Washington, D.C. The two grants came at the very end of fiscal year 2010 which ended September 30, 2010, and the two pledges were made as fiscal year 2011 began October 2, 2010.   

A $1 million matching grant for fiscal year 2011 follows a $325,000 grant late in fiscal 2010, both targeted to constructing a new headquarters building for the National Indian Gaming Association. Since 1997, NIGA had its headquarters on Capitol Hill across the street from the Madison Building of the Library of Congress. Their new building is located two blocks from the United States Capitol Building in the historic Waterston house, built in 1806 as the first residence of the Library of Congress. With the growth of Indian gaming, NIGA needed more space. They plan to build a new tribal leaders’ center in the large plot behind this historic building. 

“This new center will accommodate meeting space for 150 tribal leaders, a board room to accommodate 40 people, and several new offices. This project is expected to cost between $2.5 and $3 million and will ensure that NIGA’s headquarters are available as a meeting resource for tribal leaders for decades to come,” said NIGA Chairman Ernie Stevens, Jr.

An additional $375,000 matching grant for a NIGA Boys & Girls Club initiative was presented by SMSC Chairman Stanley R. Crooks, SMSC Vice-Chairman Glynn A. Crooks, and SMSC Secretary/Treasurer Keith B. Anderson at a NIGA Mid-Year Membership meeting October 19, 2010, at Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, Prior Lake, Minnesota, owned and operated by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community.  A previous $50,000 grant was also made to support this project at the end of fiscal year 2010.

The Native American Boys & Girls Clubs are a positive force for Indian Country, reaching out to Native youth by assisting over 200 Clubs in Indian Country with a service population of 140,000 Native American youth, locations in 25 States, and 86 Native American communities.

“Boys & Girls Clubs provide a valuable service to all children, but especially in Indian Country,” said Shakopee Chairman Stanley Crooks. “To ensure our sovereignty and to ensure the health and well-being of our tribes, we need to have opportunities for our children to get good educations and enjoy positive activities so that they will be able to support their families and protect tribal sovereignty for future generations.”  

The National Indian Gaming Association is a non-profit trade association comprised of 184 unique or individual Tribal Nations and other non-voting associate members. The common commitment and purpose of NIGA is to advance the lives of Indian people – economically, socially and politically. NIGA operates as a clearinghouse and educational, legislative and public policy resource for tribes, policymakers and the public on Indian gaming issues and tribal community development.