WASHINGTON, August 7, 2007 - Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced the award of nearly $4 million in grants to 14 tribal colleges in seven states. The funds are being provided through the USDA Rural Development Tribal College Grant program.

Education is an effective economic development tool," Johanns said. "The grants to these institutions are one of the many ways Rural Development helps rural communities provide for their economic, business and social needs."

The funding awarded today will help tribal colleges purchase equipment, build or renovate classrooms, make needed repairs, and finance infrastructure improvements. In Wisconsin, for example, the College of Menominee Nation will receive $350,000 to buy furniture and fixtures for the library. Northwest Indian College in Washington state will get $45,700 to equip a new child daycare building. Sitting Bull College in North Dakota will receive $350,000 to construct a financial operations center.

A complete list of grantees is below:

USDA Rural Development's mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural residents. Rural Development has invested more than $76.8 billion since 2001 for equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. More than 1.5 million jobs have been created or saved through these investments. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA's web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.