U.S. Treasurer Chief Lynn Malerba visited the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe reservation in Minnesota to meet with Tribal leaders and community members. The visit focused on discussing Tribal general welfare, economic recovery efforts supported by the American Rescue Plan Act, and access to capital and banking.
Treasurer Chief Lynn Malerba toured the Mille Lacs Wastewater Management facility, which services the community. The facility received funding from the American Rescue Plan State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) to improve water quality for Tribal members, fish and wildlife, conserve water, and protect the Band’s economy.
Malerba also met with a tenant living in one of the Red Willow Estates townhomes. This 30-unit townhome community received SLFRF funds and benefitted from the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. Built by an enterprise owned by the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, it includes Ojibwe-inspired landscapes and a raised-bed community garden area.
The Treasurer’s visit included a tour of the Band’s Woodlands National Bank. Mille Lacs Tribal leaders highlighted that before having a bank in their community, there was limited access to capital and credit markets, leading to economic disparities.
Under U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen’s leadership, the Department has increased its engagement with Indian Country to strengthen relationships with Tribal governments. Key investments have been made under the Biden-Harris Administration in Tribal communities, including deploying $30 billion through various federal programs like SLFRF. Additionally, proposed rules for implementing the Tribal General Welfare Exclusion were released this month. These rules highlight government-to-government dialogue prioritized by Treasury and recognize Tribal self-determination and self-governance in tax regulations.
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