July 25, 2024

Dear USET/USET SPF Family,

As dangerous extreme heat continues to affect the USET region this week, we encourage each USET member Tribal Nation to consider applying to the 2024 Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Branch of Tribal Climate Resilience (TCR) Annual Awards Program. This year, $120 Million has been appropriated to support Tribal Nations in planning for and addressing the impacts of climate change on their lands, peoples, and governments.

We especially encourage applying this year because it is the last year of the Program’s increased funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act; in the years before this increase, only $8-44 million were awarded each year.

Online applications will be accepted until October 18. Each Nation is eligible to propose multiple projects and may be awarded up to one award per project category (maximum 3 awards). Projects in any category may include a variety of topics (e.g., cultural practices, human health, environmental restoration, infrastructure, food sovereignty, water resources, etc.) and a variety of activities (youth engagement, workshops, assessments, staff or contracting, etc.). This year, the project categories are:

• Planning ($250K max)

• Implementation ($4 Million max; funded activities must be identified in an existing plan or document)

• Relocation, Managed retreat, and/or Protect-in-place (RMP) Staff Salary ($150K/year for 3 years max; identified staff member must participate in year-long training cohort)

In the coming months, there will be multiple opportunities for application support. For questions about the application process or eligible activities, contact resilience.funding@bia.gov and/or your regional TCR coordinator (Eastern region: angela.waupochick@bia.gov). Check the TCR Awards Program website for more details about technical assistance opportunities. Interested applicants can also see past TCR awards and documents and access the FY23 informational webinar recordings.

The USET Climate Resilience Team is eager to support USET member Nations’ applications and climate resilience initiatives. Please email Climate Science Liaison, Steph Courtney at scourtney@usetinc.org and/or Forest Adaptation Technical Assistant, Tyler Everett at teverett@usetinc.org. The Climate Program website also has information and tools that may be helpful to Tribal Nations working to reduce harm from climate change.

Established in 1969, the United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc. (USET) is a non-profit, inter-Tribal organization serving thirty-three (33) federally recognized Tribal Nations from the Northeastern Woodlands to the Everglades and across the Gulf of Mexico. USET is dedicated to enhancing the development of Tribal Nations, improving the capabilities of Tribal governments, and improving the quality of life for Indian people through a variety of technical and supportive programmatic services.