LAPUSH — The Quileute tribe this week received a $35,000 economic development grant from the federal Department of Commerce.
It’s the same grant the tribe has received yearly for decades, said Dennis Crawford, the tribe’s planning director.
But this year, it comes at a time when the Quileute are focusing more of their economic development efforts on tourism as a way to boost the tribe’s economy.
“We have used that planning grant for various developments over the past several years,” Crawford said Tuesday.
“I think that along with other tribes, tourism has taken over as a major activity and enterprise for us.”
The grant will go partially to pay for staff members who will be charged with writing plans for several projects related to tourism, including a new RV park in LaPush.
“This year, we’ll be using some of that grant money to plan seafood marketing,” Crawford said.
“But we’re also going to try and plan a new marine RV park for visitors, as well as further develop our Quileute Information and Conference Center.”
Information center
About five years ago, the tribe acquired a former U.S. Forest Service building about five miles north of Forks on U.S. Highway 101.
It recently opened a gift shop in the building.
“We’ve been doing a lot of remodeling there,” said Russell Woodruff, Quileute tribal chairman.
“We try to scoop up the tourists as they’re driving along.”
The center was recently recognized by the state as an official information center, Crawford said.
“We’re trying to have more exhibits of tribal activities, like carving, there,” Crawford said.
