Since the Michigan-based Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe began sharing 2 percent of revenue from its Soaring Eagle Casino in Mount Pleasant in 1993, it has distributed more than $1 billion to local governmental agencies and public schools. Director of Public Relations Frank Cloutier stated, “The last five years, in Isabella County alone, we’ve given over $21 million.” He said the tribe distributed $4,324,000 in 2016; $4,307,000 in 2017; $4,425,000 in 2018; and $4,441,000 in 2019. “And then, of course, because of the impact of Covid-19 and the closure in 2020, it was $3,575,000 last year,” he said.
One major focus of the 2 percent program is infrastructure, Cloutier stated, “We’re looking at roads, we’re looking at bridges, we’re looking at safety issues, fire trucks, ambulances, all those infrastructure needs because we’re making quite an impact on the number of people coming in and going out of our county. So, we feel an obligation to alleviate some of that stress.”
Cloutier said millions of dollars of local road work has been funded through the 2 percent grants. “A lot of the road work in Isabella County is done by grants because roads are so expensive per mile to do. What we’ve found is most beneficial is that when there is a match to these grants. Let’s say there’s a $200,000 road that needs to be done, but there’s a $60,000 match from the community. We’re using 2 percent dollars to make that match so they can get that road done.”
An ongoing grant of $200,000 is given annually to the Isabella County Commission on Aging. Since 1995 the organization has received more than $9 million from the tribe. Cloutier said, “We believe in supporting our elders because they’re the keepers of the wisdom. They’re the teachers. They’ve got life experience to share. In order for us to benefit from that we have to keep them safe and keep them well.”
A third, newer recipient of 2 percent grant funding is the Protect Yourself program, which has received $150,000 over the past three years, said Meg Schubert, executive director of the Isabella County Child Advocacy Center. The Protect Yourself program consists of body safety education offered annually to 1,200 first grade students throughout the county.
Looking ahead, Cloutier said, “When you look at the benefit the 2 percent grants have had on the community in the last 20-some years, it’s worth the fight to protect our market. It’s worth the fight to protect our community.”
