Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today announced that the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe has been awarded a $215,000 grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Agency to help make improvements to their facilities.

Funding will be used to help construct administration offices, a conference center and classrooms at the IAIA, which is the only four-year fine arts degree institution in the nation devoted to contemporary Native American and Alaska Native arts.

"This grant will not only help to support American Indian Arts through improving the Institute's facilities, but create jobs and boost the local economy," Bingaman said.

Funding was provided through a Bingaman-created grant program that supports community development projects in Native American Communities.  Every year, Bingaman requests funding to be set aside for projects to involving tribal colleges, promoting business in Indian country, and improving facilities and infrastructure.