Tribes located in South Dakota can now access a pot of money set aside for housing infrastructure projects.
Lawmakers approved a rule change made by South Dakota Housing Authority during an interim rules review committee on Tuesday.
In 2023, state lawmakers set aside $200,000 of federal and state money for grants and low-interest loans to help spur development on public infrastructure like sanitary and storm sewer systems.
But, the law did not include tribes and the governments were unable to access the money. Lawmakers added tribes to the law during the 2024 session.
“Essentially added Indian tribes to anywhere that political subdivisions were listed as eligible entities to own, maintain or provide the public infrastructure, when, before, Indian tribes were not listed in the rules,” said Chas Olsen, director of SD Housing Authority, which administers the fund.
The change comes too late for tribes to access housing infrastructure grant dollars. Olsen said all the $50 million in grant money is allocated and $14.5 million is already out the door.
Of the $150 million dollars in low-interest loans, $85 million dollars is still available.
All American Rescue Plan act dollars must be designated by the end of the year and spent by the end of 2026.
