November 3, 2023 3:40 a.m.
The Coquille Indian Tribe is receiving over $7.7 million in grant funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Tribal Communications Director Tim Novotny said it is believed to be the largest grant award the Tribe has ever won.
Coquille Tribal Chair Brenda Meade said, “This news is nothing short of amazing! It is a great day for the Coquille Tribe, its people, our community, and our future”. Meade said, “Our thanks to our hard-working staff and representatives for securing this funding that we believe will bring strong economic benefits to this area for generations to come”.
The release said the total amount of $7,729,650 will go to fund three components of the Ko’Kwel Wharf near the Mill Casino Hotel & RV Park property in North Bend.
Novotny said Ko’-Kwel Wharf will see substantial dock improvements, new power sources for visiting vessels and preliminary plans for a dock expansion due to the grant.
Funds for the project come from the $662 million 2023 Port Infrastructure Development Program managed by the federal Maritime Administration. As a co-applicant, the Tribe’s Economic Development Corporation, Tribal One, will manage the project on behalf of the tribe.
Tribal One CEO Judy Farm said, “For the past several years, Tribal One has been working to prepare the Ko’Kwel Wharf for its next life as a commercial and industrial center that on focuses on maritime resources so that bulk carriers and other large vessels can dock safely and securely at Ko’Kwel Warf”.
Novotny said dock repairs on the northern section will begin immediately to allow for industrial use in 2024. This section had been repaired in 2014 and 2017. The second phase of the work will see substantial repairs made to the dock on the remaining portion of the wharf where there has been little or no repair work for over the past 40 years.
The release said other elements of the grant will bring 800-amp electrical service to an outlet that will allow ships to turn off their diesel engines and operate on shore power while in port. A third element will complete the development phase of a proposed 600-700-foot extension to the dock.
Chair Meade said the Tribe is proud to take part in the nationwide effort to rebuild the port infrastructure. Meade said, ‘With this funding, our Tribal One team will continue their work to rebuild Ko’Kwel Wharf as a productive and reliable economic resource that will help secure the future of the Coquille Tribe and our North Bend community and become a valuable member of the nation’s maritime industry.