The Chippewa Cree Tribe is receiving a $240,000 grant from the Montana Department of Commerce to make upgrades to the C & C Market and the C & C Firehouse.
Justin Robicheau reports - watch the video here:
The community heavily relies on the two facilities for essential needs.
"Our buildings are old around here, because of funding and everything. We rely on, federal funding agencies and stuff to be able to help provide. So now we can look at new roofs and. Yeah, just upgrade our buildings so that they last longer," Calvin Jilot, Chippewa Tribal Business Committee member and C & C Stores board of directors member, said.
Pete Stiffarm, director of markets , said some of the money will go toward infrastructure changes.
"We're going to be working on the roof at the other facility. We're going to be making upgrades to the kitchen to provide, more, lunch opportunities and breakfast opportunities for our community members," Stiffarm said.
"To this store. We're going to be doing things like, like a handicapped door, accessible door for, our handicapped, community members," Stiffarm said.
Having these resources locally is critical to help residents avoid long trips for basic necessities.
"We have a place here on the community, on the reservation where our tribal members and local community members can come to and get their essential needs and not have to travel, you know, 60-mile round trip, 90-mile round trip sometimes just depends on where they're living on the reservation," Stiffarm said.
Leaders say investments like this help ensure the long-term future of these vital community hubs.
"Getting grants like this and opening up the opportunity to build and to keep the building up afloat and stuff. That just means we're going to stay open that much longer and, and provide that much more," Jilot said.
Renovations are expected to begin by the end of the month.
