WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren put his signature on a construction contract for a new chapter house and senior center at Gadii’ahi/To’koii, N.M.
After years of holdups, funding proposals and advocacy by chapter leadership and staff, construction will begin soon.
“As the Gadii’ahi/To’koii chapter house and senior center project shows, the hard work of our local communities can bring about very real results,” President Nygren said. “I am fully in agreement with the goal of this project and I commend the efforts of the leadership and staff who have come together to make this happen.”
The construction project calls for a new 5,413-square-foot chapter building and a new 3,517-square-foot senior center building.
Following the bidding process for the project, Arviso Construction Co., a Navajo-owned business, was selected to manage the construction.
On the Navajo Nation’s side, the Capital Projects Management Department within the Division of Community Development will oversee the phased project and administer funding.
During the signing ceremony held in the Navajo Nation Office of the President and Vice President Stateroom on Mar. 28, chapter leadership said the chapter building was inspected by a construction management firm in 2008 and was found to be in need of replacement. The chapter senior center is also condemned.
Since then, the local community began committing its own revenue in 2012 and sought matching funds from multiple sources. Those sources now include the Navajo Nation’s Síhásin Fund, gaming revenues, New Mexico Capital Outlay and Tribal Infrastructure Funding, New Mexico Aging and Long Term Care Services funding and general funds.
Present for the signing of the contract by President Nygren was Navajo Nation Council Delegate Amber Crotty, who represents the Gadii’ahi/To’koii Chapter, Gadii’ahi/To’koii Chapter President Harry Descheene, Gadii’ahi/To’koii Chapter Vice President Arnold Nelson, Legislative District Assistant Kristy Dempsey, Orville Arviso and Olsen Arviso of Arviso Construction Co., Division of Community Development Executive Director Calvin Castillo and Administrative Assistant Leslie Sandoval.
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