By: Janet Peterson, Colfax Record Reporter
6:23 PM PST
The United Auburn Indian Community has awarded the Colfax Area Historic
Society a challenge grant for $50,000. Charlie Gray, Historic
Society President, received a call from a Sacramento news reporter who
wanted information on the award.
"This was the first I had heard that we were selected for this grant,"
Gray said, "I called Helen Wayland who is out of town now to let her
know and she was tickled pink."
Wayland and Gray applied for this grant several months ago for the
renovation of the interior of the Colfax Depot. When completed the
Depot will house the Chamber of Commerce, a waiting area of train
travelers, a museum and public restrooms.
According to Kris Martin, Director of Giving for the United Auburn
Tribe, the grant is one that matches dollar for dollar the funds raised
by Colfax for this project up to $50,000. This brings the total grant
money received by Colfax this year to $80,000. Earlier in 2004, the
Sierra Vista Community Center received two grants, which totaled
$30,000.
Sharing is part of the "Native American way of living in this world,"
Martin said, "The tribe feels very lucky to be in this position."
Grants are given to community based organizations regardless of their
past position on Indian gaming because the tribe feels good projects
make stronger communities, she said.
In 2005 grants for $1 million will be awarded and the focus is expected
to be on health and human services and education. The selection
requirement that recipients must be "community based, non-profit
organizations that reside in Placer County" will remain the same.
The city of Colfax allocated $75,000 towards the completion of the
Depot's interior and the city was instrumental in securing
approximately $2 million from state and federal sources for the first
phase. "The landscaping and exterior finish work was done primarily by
volunteers," said Bob Perault, Colfax City Manager.
"The goal is to complete the renovation by Sept 2005 which will
coincide with the Depot's centennial celebration," he said, "and I
think they are on track to accomplish it."
