New Markets Tax Credits advance first-ever substance abuse treatment facility for the Colville Tribe

The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation has partnered with two nonprofits with deep ties in the Pacific Northwest to construct a 32-bed new residential substance abuse treatment center in Keller, Washington. The project, which totals approximately $20 million, is facilitated by New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocations to Craft3 and Ecotrust. The facility will be the first-of-its-kind on the Colville Reservation.

“Access to capital and financial services for economic development and overall tribal development are significant issues facing rural and tribal communities. The Colville Tribes is gratified that it will be able to utilize the New Markets Tax Credit program to address the health and wellness of our tribal citizens and the surrounding communities,” said Rodney Cawston, Chairman of the Colville Business Council. “The facility will address a longstanding need in our area,” Cawston said.

The Colville Tribe Health and Human Services Department refers roughly 70 tribal members annually to residential treatment programs, but continuously faces challenges finding off- reservation facilities for its members. This new facility will help alleviate some of that need. The facility is being constructed to meet LEED Silver standards, and will incorporate geothermal heating, advanced lighting and controls, and a comprehensive storm water management program that will provide one-hundred percent infiltration from storm water runoff from the entire site.

“In 25 years of lending, this is one of Craft3’s largest-ever single investments in Indian Country,” said Adam Zimmerman, Craft3 President and CEO. “We’ve been proud to work with

the tribe and other financial partners and investors to meet the critical need to expand treatment services for tribal members and others in Eastern Washington. This project underscores the need for legislators in Washington, D.C. to swiftly reauthorize the New Markets Tax Credit program so that it does not expire at the end of 2020.”

The facility will offer a broad range of

services and treatment lengths to adults based on the needs of the patients, including individual and group therapy and counseling; family counseling, laboratory tests, psychological test, and room and board. The facility is a key part of the Tribe’s goals to:

- Decrease alcohol and substance abuse deaths by 50%

- Reduce alcohol and drug recidivism rate by 25%

- Increase on-reservation employment by 25%

Substance abuse is a treatable disease but access to inpatient programs has been a barrier for many in our community and the surrounding areas,” said Jack Ferguson, Vice-Chairman of the Colville Business Council and Keller District representative. “This new facility in Keller will address that need and increase access to care,” Ferguson added.

Craft3’s past NMTC investments have included facilities construction at Clatsop Community College, a community-scale windfarm in Grayland, Washington, the construction of a campus for Oregon Coast Community Action, and the recent expansion of Fort George Brewery + Public House in Astoria, Oregon. The New Markets Tax Credit program is slated to expire at the end of 2020 unless it is reauthorized by Congress.

Ecotrust, the Portland, Oregon based nonprofit that is committed to work that advances economic, social, and environmental well-being, is also an investor in the project/rounded out the investment.

Approximately 5,520 Colville tribal members live in Okanogan, Ferry and Grant Counties.