What is the Gila River State Shared Revenue Program, Cities, Towns and Counties Distribution Fund? Proposition 202 passed by voters in November 2002 allowed for new gaming compacts between the State of Arizona and Arizona tribes. An important provision of Proposition 202 was the sharing of gaming revenues with the State. A portion of this state shared revenue (12%) can be retained by an Indian tribe and distributed to cities, towns and counties for government services that benefit the general public, including public safety, mitigation of the impacts of gaming, or promotion of commerce and economic development. The Gila River Indian Community decided to exercise this option and developed their State Shared Revenue Program. 

What types of projects can be funded from the Gila River State Shared Revenue Program? The law states that the monies are to be for “government services that benefit the general public, including public safety, mitigation of the impacts of gaming, or promotion of commerce and economic development.” Recognizing that this statutory listing of government services is suggestive rather than inclusive, the Gila River Indian Community developed an expanded list of “priority areas” for which funding will be concentrated. These are: Public Safety, Transportation, Health Care Services, Economic Development, and Education. In addition to these priority areas, the Community reserves the right to utilize its discretion in funding special programs and projects not included in the above listing.

 Can private organizations apply for grants from the State Shared Revenue Program? Arizona law states that a Tribe can make twelve percent (12%) of its total annual contribution to the state in “Distributions to cities, towns or counties…” A private organization can apply for a grant however all applications to the Gila River State Shared Revenue Program must be made by a city, town, or county and accompanied by a resolution from a sponsoring City, Town or County. If awarded, a check will be issued directly to that city, town or county who will in turn administer funds to the applicant in order to carryout the proposed project. 

Is there a specific format in which grant applications must be made? Applications shall be made in the form of a written proposal in the format specified by the Office of Special Funding. This format can be downloaded from our website by clicking on the “Grant Application” link or by contacting the Gila River Office of Special Funding at (520) 562-3318 or (480) 963-9131. The supporting city, town, or county resolution is a vital part of the application therefore no application will be forwarded to the review team without this attachment. 

Where do grant applications need to be submitted? In order to avoid lost or misplaced applications, please mail proposals directly to the Gila River Office of Special Funding, P.O. Box 2172, Sacaton, AZ 85247.

Is there a deadline for submitting applications? There is no deadline for submission of applications. Applications are accepted on an on-going basis at the Gila River Office of Special Funding and are reviewed several times a year by an appointed State Shared Revenue Review Team. Applications are date stamped upon receipt and are reviewed in the order they are received.

Is there a limit on the amount one can apply for? There are no set funding limits for grants. However, the annual amount available is dependent on overall casino revenues and can vary from year to year. Multi-year grant requests are acceptable and allow the Community to award grants to a greater number of municipalities.  

How often are grant awards made? Deposits into the fund are made quarterly on a sliding scale based on the amount of the tribe’s overall state-shared revenues. Initially the Community intended to review applications on a quarterly basis, however history has shown that first quarter revenues are usually not adequate for funding many of the project proposals we receive. The Review Team will consider applications 2 to 3 times following the second quarter of each fiscal year (October 1 – September 30). All funds must be awarded by October 25 of each year. 

What is the approval process and how long does it take? The Gila River Office of Special Funding receives and date stamps all grant applications. Several times a year, an appointed State Shared Revenue Review Team reviews applications and makes recommendations to the Gila River Community Council’s Government and Management Standing Committee. Following consideration by the Committee, applications are forwarded to the Community Council for final approval. The actual approval process may take up to one month following consideration by the Review Team. However applications received early in the fiscal year will be held until the Review Team meets. In addition, applications not immediately recommended for approval may be held for the next review when additional funds are available. In this case the applicant will be notified in writing. All applications will be reviewed in the order that they are received.

Does the grant application need a cover letter? A cover letter is optional and not a requirement of the grant application. However, please do include the completed cover sheet, with the Mayor or Chairman of the Board of Supervisors signature, specified in the application format. 

How often can an entity apply for grants from the Gila River State Shared Revenue Program? There is no set limitation on how often an entity can apply for funds. Applications are considered based on the overall benefit to the general public, adherence to the guidelines and available funding.