Tribal utility company to build new modern headquarters
BY ARLYSSA BECENTI
NAVAJO TIMES
FORT DEFIANCE — After operating for over 50 years in its current aging building, the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority will soon be moving into new, modern headquarters.
During a ceremonial ground breaking of the Navajo corporation’s new headquarters, tribal leaders and NTUA corporate managers, staff and board members came together to celebrate the beginning of a new phase for the half-century corporation.
“This groundbreaking ceremony is an example of how this enterprise has been able to move forward to a new building,” said Navajo Nation Speaker LoRenzo Bates. “They are going to be a major player in the development across the Navajo Nation by virtue of the council legislation that they approved.”
Bates was talking about the Navajo Nation Council’s approval of the $180 million project used toward water and wastewater infrastructure on the Navajo Nation, which was signed into law by Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye last year.
Comparing the Navajo Nation using its own resources to fund this water project, Bates commended NTUA for finding its own funding source to pay for the new building which has been in the works for the past five years.
NTUA General Manager, Walter Haase, explained that 51 percent of the financing came from the United States Department of Agriculture; they also were able to get assistance from Great Western Bank.
“I appreciate the Speaker Bates and President Begaye and Vice President Jonathan Nez for sending letters of sup- port for us to potentially get tax credit which will allow us to increase the funding,” said Haas. “I found out yesterday we are expecting…a letter of intent, which will provide an additional $4 million. At the end of the day, it ends up look-