BY JIM MIMIAGA
The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe has been awarded a $9 million federal grant to upgrade its water and wastewater infrastructure in Towaoc and White Mesa.
The grant, issued through rural development program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will pay for two municipal projects in Towaoc and two in White Mesa, the tribe’s satellite community in southeast Utah.
“We are ecstatic and thankful for this funding because our infrastructure is in dire need of repairs and upgrades,” said Ute Mountain Ute Planning Director Bernadette Cuthair. “Maintaining these aging and outdated systems has been a real financial challenge for the tribe.”
Tribe Chairman Manuel Heart said the 60-year-old water and sewer systems aren’t adequate for demand...