The official page of the Kiowa Tribe. Sunny. Komalty called it a “good day for the Kiowa people” as leadership continues to achieve financial security while working to address the many aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Whereas the money is considered a lifeline to help the tribe to stabilize during this pandemic, it still is not enough because of the unmet needs that most tribes in Indian Country so desperately need,” he said. Employing over 160 employees in Carnegie, Anadarko, Lawton and Chickasha, the Kiowa Tribe is one of the first of the local tribes in Caddo County to qualify for the loan program, according to Neely Tsoodle, tribe information officer. “I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work with the quality of staff that support me and Madame Vice Chair Rhonda Ahhaitty as we counter the effects of the crisis.”. View Kiowa News. Low 46F. 7.6K likes. Fastest Kiowa News and updates. “Our health care system barely meets our health care needs.”. “The money is made available under the program disappears quickly and leaves many entities disappointed.”. The relief funds were first scheduled to be released on April 26 but were delayed due to a pending litigation by tribes against the U.S. Treasury for including Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) as recipients of a significant portion of the funding destined to the federally recognized tribes. “The closure of our casinos has affected us tremendously, and this program brings us one step closer to help us ease the pain of lost revenues.”. View Videos. Of the $2.2 trillion rescue package available under the Act, approximately $8 billion was set aside for tribal governments, according to Neely Tsoodle, tribe information officer. Komalty reminds that it’s up to the U.S. government to honor its treaty obligations to all the federally recognized tribes. The CARES Act also provides tribes and the Indian Health Services (IHS) with $15 million in emergency supplemental funding through the Public Health and Social Service Emergency Funds, along with over $1 billion to IHS in flexible emergency supplemental funding that can be used to obtain personal protective equipment and other medical supplies. Kiowa News The Kiowa Newspaper can be picked up, in Carnegie at the Kiowa Tribal Complex, Bank of Commerce, the Indian Clinic, Hop n Sack, Carnegie Lumber, B-3 Convenience Store, the Kiowa Gift Shop, the AOA Center and the Tax Commission office. “Our people disproportionately have a higher incidence rate of preexisting medical conditions,” she said. “Although there are no specific guidelines yet published, my staff will treat these funds as any other federally funded grant program,” Komalty said. “The application process was extremely time sensitive to get in place, and in the queue with thousands of other applications being filed throughout the country,” she said. Komalty said the money received was based on the tribe’s population of 14,108 members. On Wednesday, the U.S. Treasury began distributing coronavirus relief funding under the CARES Act 2020 to the nation’s 574 federally recognized tribes. The funding is a result of great collaboration by Executive Branch staff and the Executive Branch’s attorney and required close coordination with the tribe’s banker, John Allen of Community Bank in Chickasha, according to Tsoodle. Two tribal employees have since tested positive for the virus after remaining on the job during the shutdown of most tribal programs that followed. The expenditures covered by the funds must cover costs incurred between March 1 and Dec. 31 of this year. “The Kiowa Tribe Executive Branch will ensure that the use of funds complies with the allowability rules and the period of performance specified in the bill,” he said. Written by Scott Rains: scott.rains@swoknews.com. “The money will help us to continue to respond to the pandemic and to help us recover from us shutting down our casinos that served as our primary moneymakers. “The Kiowa Tribe received good news today when notified of the approval of a loan that is forgivable under the CARES Act 2020 (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act),” he said. CARNEGIE — The Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma has been approved for $1.1 million in relief funds made available under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). She said their concerns with the CARES Act funding allocation need to be heard. Tribal Chairman Matthew Komalty confirmed that the Kiowa Tribe has received approximately $19.5 million. “Since the Executive Branch of government is experienced with the auditing requirements associated with the use of federal funds, we will implement the proper internal control procedures to track the expenditures for future reporting/auditing purposes to ensure we remain in compliance with the allowability rules.”.