The CCDF and TANF portions of the proposed Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe’s Public Law 102-477 plan for October 1, 2022 thru September 30, 2025 can be viewed below. Please note, this is the initial draft of the Aanjibimaadizing 477 plan.

There may be revisions made both by the Mille Lacs Band and federal authorities on it. The finalized plan will go into effect October 1, 2022. Stakeholders such as Tribal members, Tribal employees, partnering Tribal programs, and Tribal elders can express their support, raise concerns, and offer considerations and ideas regarding the provision of services.

The following public hearings on the plan are scheduled to be held:

Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Plan for 2022-2025

CCDF Public Hearing Notice.pdf

CCDF Portion of the MLBO 477 Plan

Date: April 7, 2022 at 9:00 a.m.

Location: Aanjibimaadizing Office, 43500 Migizi Drive, Onamia, MN 56359

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Plan for 2022-2025

TANF Public Hearing Notice.pdf

TANF Portion of MLBO 477 plan

Date: May 17, 2022 at 9:00 a.m.

Location: Aanjibimaadizing Office, 43500 Migizi Drive, Onamia, MN 56359

If you wish to comment, please make your request known in writing or by email to karen.pagnac@millelacsband.com.

Aanjibimaadizing is operated as a division of the  MLBO Department of Administration. All program services are offered to support obtaining and  retaining employment, improving or creating a position of job readiness, and addressing barriers through the Mille Lacs Band 477 Program. This program provides services to Tribal members seeking to establish self-sufficiency for themselves and their families in accordance with Public Law 102-477. Public Law 102-477 is most often referred to as “P.L. 477”, or “477”.

Every three years a new 477 Plan is created. Statistical and narrative 477 reports on the progress of the 477 plan are made annually. If needed, amendments to the 477 plan can be made.

About the 477 Program

The 477 Program is a critical program that provides for sovereignty and builds capacity in Indian Country and Alaska Native villages by authorizing tribal governments and tribal organizations to integrate eligible employment, training, and related services programs that support workforce development and, thereby, increase employment rates in tribal communities and with native population centers.

Background of the 477 Program

In passing Public Law 102-477 in 1992 (1992 Act), Congress intended to reduce unemployment in tribal communities by creating employment opportunities consistent with the principle of tribal self-determination. The 1992 Act was also intended to increase the effectiveness of employment and training programs by reducing and streamlining administrative requirements through the consolidation of budgeting, reporting, and auditing systems. However, the 1992 Act was only a demonstration project and only applied to programs from the Departments of Interior, Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services.

In 2000, Congress amended the 477 Program to allow tribes and tribal organizations more flexibility in using their funds for employment creation and to provide clarity on waiver requests in tribal plans. In 2017, Congress again amended the 477 Program in the Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Consolidation Act of 2017 (P.L.115-93) (2017 amendments). Congress made clear that the purpose of the 477 Program is to facilitate the ability of federally recognized tribes and tribal organizations to integrate the eligible employment, training, and related services they provide from different federal sources, and is aimed at reducing administrative, reporting, and accounting costs.

477 Program Implementation

Through the Division of Workforce Development at the Office of Indian Services within the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), is the lead agency for the 477 Program, tasked with the role of administering the 477 Program among tribes, tribal organizations, and the eleven other federal partners. The BIA is responsible for working with tribes to ensure that plans submitted by a Tribe under the 477 Program are completed. BIA coordinates the review and approval of plans, including waiver requests, with the federal partners.

As the lead agency, the BIA also manages the distribution, monitoring, and auditing of funds provided to tribes through the 477 Program. Once a plan is approved, and subject to the availability of funds, the affected agencies transfer funds to the BIA, which is responsible for distributing these funds to the tribe. Approved tribal plans are implemented on a three-year cycle, providing tribes with budget and program planning stability.

Once a tribe receives these funds, they are consolidated into a single budget, allowing the tribe to exercise self-determination through flexible administration of those funds across activities from the approved plan. The tribes then report on outcomes for the program services and activities in the approved plan. The integrated funding and unified reporting system further serves to reduce the administrative burden on tribes and the federal government.

Tribal 477 plans can include programs administered by the federal partners that are implemented for the purpose of job training, welfare to work and tribal work experience, creating or enhancing employment opportunities, skill development, assisting tribal youth and adults to succeed in the workforce, encouraging self-sufficiency, familiarizing individual participants with the world of work, and facilitating the creation of job opportunities, economic development, or related services.

The benefits of consolidating programs across twelve federal agencies greatly increases the flexibility with which tribes can provide critical workforce development services to their tribal members.