The Eastern Band of Cherokees awarded $4.5 million in grants to preserve Cherokee culture and promote economic development.

The tribe's Cherokee Preservation Foundation gave money to projects on and off the reservation. Some $2.3 million will be used for low-interest loans for business owners, $735,000 will support a tourism-related economic campaign and $200,000 will go to the Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual for Cherokee artists.

The foundation is seeded with money from the tribe's successful gaming operation.

Get the Story:
Cherokee grant to help preserve, promote tribe (The Ashville Citizen-Times 9/28)

Relevant Links:
Cherokee Preservation Foundation - http://www.cherokeepreservationfdn.org