$750,000 awarded to three affiliated tribes of the fort berthold reservation for rural and tribal assistance pilot program to support legal, technical, and financial advisors to help advance…

The Department of Transportation Immediate Office of the Secretary awarded $750,000 to Three Affiliated Tribes (doing business as MHA Nation) on September 1, 2026, under the Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program (CFDA 20.943) to support legal, technical, and financial advisors advancing transportation infrastructure projects on the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota.

The award funds development-phase assistance for White Shield transportation safety improvements along BIA Road 1 serving the Son of Star Casino. Three Affiliated Tribes will deliver a work plan, quarterly reports, project deliverables, and 2 CFR 200 compliance documentation. The cooperative agreement runs through August 31, 2029, with performance in North Dakota. Beneficiaries are residents of the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation.

The Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program, established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, provides early-stage development assistance to enable rural and tribal communities to hire staff or procure expert advisory services for projects reasonably expected to be eligible for certain DOT credit and grant programs. Eligible applicants include federally recognized Indian tribes, units of local government outside urban areas of more than 150,000 residents, states advancing rural projects, and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. The Program requires quarterly, annual, and final reports and evaluates applications on a first-come, first-served basis using merit criteria assessing appropriateness of services and viability of requested funding.

$750,000 awarded to three affiliated tribes of the fort berthold reservation for rural and tribal assistance pilot program to support legal, technical, and financial advisors to help advance infrastructure projects. Activities to be performed: white shield transportation safety improvements for SON of star casino along BIA RD 1 on the fort berthold reservation in north dakota. Deliverables/expected outcomes: work plan, quarterly reports, project deliverables and 2 CFR 200 compliance. Beneficiaries: three affilitated tribes of the fort berthold reservation residents.