Snoqualmie Valley organizations recently received a total of $356,748 from the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, in the first disbursement of mitigation funds from the tribe-operated Snoqualmie Casino.
Mitigation amounts included $116,667 to the city of Snoqualmie for the planned Snoqualmie Valley YMCA community center; $85,000 to the Snoqualmie Valley Transportation bus system operated by Mount Si Senior Center and the Tribe, $59,600 to Mount Si Senior Center, $40,000 to Encompass, $35,000 to the Snoqualmie Valley Community Network and $20,000 to the Mount Si Food Bank.
The disbursement is required in the tribe’s compact with Washington state. It was calculated based on proceeds of the tribe’s Snoqualmie Casino, from its opening in November 2008 through the end of 2009. A panel of two tribal representatives and one each from the city of Snoqualmie, King County and Washington state evaluated and approved the local organizational applications for the funds. The disbursement is audited by the Washington State Gambling Commission.
Mattson said that by building a world-class facility with no large neon freeway sign, the tribe demonstrated its desire to be a good neighbor.
“This is the Snoqualmie Valley, and it bears the tribe’s name, so being a good neighbor is something we take seriously,” he said. “Our stewardship extends to the community, and we are extremely proud to be making funds available to vital community needs. For us, being a valuable citizen in the community is visceral. It goes beyond a requirement.”
Separate from mitigation funds, the tribe also recently donated $10,000 to the Carnation Farmers Market, $85,000 to the Chris Elliott Fund (a Sammamish charity for brain-cancer research), $15,000 to the Sno Valley Senior Center in Carnation and $15,000 to assist with fundraising for the Snoqualmie Valley YMCA community center, along with $5,000 each to Festival at Mount Si, Issaquah Salmon Days and Snoqualmie Railroad Days.
The tribe will solicit applications for 2010 mitigation funds this fall and will disburse the funds in mid-201l.
