Federal Grant Award Summary

The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians received a $671,482 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service, effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2027, to administer the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR, CFDA 10.567). Under this award, the tribe distributes supplemental monthly food packages to income-eligible households residing on or near the reservation in Manistee, Michigan. The food packages contain over 100 domestically sourced items, including frozen and canned meats and fish, beans, peanut butter, fresh and canned fruits and vegetables, pasta, rice, cereals, dairy products, and oils or butter, selected by eligible households according to Federal guide rates based on household size.

FDPIR serves as a nutrition assistance alternative to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for households with limited access to SNAP offices or authorized food stores. The tribe is responsible for certifying income-eligible households based on national eligibility criteria tied to SNAP net monthly income thresholds, maintaining program records for three years, and managing the logistics of food receipt, storage, and distribution. Administrative funding is provided on an annual basis to support program operations, with households assigned certification periods not exceeding one year, except elderly or disabled households may receive certifications up to 24 months if circumstances remain stable.