Native American organizations across the state can apply for $4.5 million in federal grants to provide services for crime victims, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced Friday.

The MDHHS Division of Victim Services has posted its third of five requests for proposals for Victims of Crime Act funding. MDHHS will award three-year U.S. Department of Justice grants of $50,000 to $500,000.

Michigan has the largest number of federally-funded recognized Native American Tribes east of the Mississippi. There is also a significant number of urban American Indians and Alaska Natives residing in southeast Michigan. Michigan needs tribal victim services and the goal is to reach the underserved and unserved members of the Native American population.

The division is accepting proposals from 12 Native American tribes and organizations: Bay Mills Indian Community, Hannahville Indian Community, Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians, Huron Potawatomi/Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, Gun Lake Band/Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians and the Sault Ste Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and American Indian Services.

Questions about the RFP for tribal victim services can be emailed to MDHHS-CVSC-VOCA-GRANTS@michigan.gov and must be submitted by 5 p.m. May 11. The deadline for proposals is 3 p.m. June 7.

For more information or to apply, visit the

and select the “About EGrAMS” link on the left panel to access the Crime Victims Competitive Agreement Instructions. The Tribal Victim Services request for proposal is under “Legal and Policy Affairs” in the Current Grants section in the left panel.

For more information about Michigan’s Division of Victim Services, visit

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