The Choctaw Nation presented its annual Choctaw Community Partnership Fund checks in the amounts of $305,800 to the City of Durant and $35,800 for Bryan County.
The presentations of the ceremonial checks last week at the Choctaw Nation Headquarters represented the total amount the tribe has given to the city and the county for the year.
“Today, we’re just doing the overall check presentation,” said James Dry, district 9 Tribal Council member. “It’s a little over $340,000 that part of it goes to the county and part of it goes to the city and it’s just a great way that the tribe can help give back to the city and county. We do other projects even outside of this with the Choctaw Nation and different businesses in the city and stuff and schools, but this has just been a great partnership that we’ve done the last I think over five years.
“The city and county gets a check once a quarter and then we just do one big check presentation.”
Bryan County District 2 Commissioner Justin Boone expressed appreciation for the partnership checks.
“Of course, the county’s always grateful for any kind of partnership we get with the tribe, and we want to be good stewards of the money that they provide for us,” Boone said. “As far as what we do with it, we use it for various things from building projects to maintenance on our buildings there at the courthouse and at the annex. We’re just very grateful for anything that we get from them, and we want to be good stewards and good partners with them.”
Durant City Manager Pam Polk said the city has a great partnership with the Choctaw Nation.
“I’m so very thankful for all of the projects they do help with,” Polk said. “This is $305,800 that just helps with lots of projects. We always have infrastructure or some kind of need and we’re just thankful for our partnership with the Choctaw Nation.”
Polk said the funds could go toward whatever the city needs.
“We put last year’s toward the new animal shelter because that will be used by everyone in the city, in the county,” Polk said. “We need a new animal shelter desperately. Maybe that, but not sure yet, but it will go to a very good use. It is being designed right now. I hope to have it started this next year.”
Choctaw Nation Assistant Chief Jack Austin Jr. said the partnership fund is a great thing for communities in the tribal reservation, not only Durant, but all of the communities. He said the funds can help the city with infrastructure projects such as road repairs.
“We’ve been able to create and expand upon our partnerships with the City of Durant and hopefully, these funds will continue to help the city,” Austin said. “It helps the community that we’re a part of.”
