Statutory Authority

The Navajo Revitalization Fund (NRF) is a program of the State of Utah authorized in Section 9-11-101, et seq.  The goal of the NRF is to maximize the long-term benefits of state severance taxes paid on oil and natural gas production by providing grants and/or loans to agencies of county or tribal government in San Juan County which are impacted by the development of oil and gas interests in Utah held in trust for the Navajo Nation and its members.

Board Membership

The NRF is controlled by a five-member board composed of a governor's designee, two members of the San Juan County Commission whose districts include portions of the Navajo Reservation, the chair of the Navajo Utah Commission or his designee, and the chair of the Utah Dineh Committee or his designee.  The Utah State Department of Community and Economic Development provide administrative and operational support. (Board Membership List)

Eligible Applicants

The NRF may authorize grants and/or loans to the Navajo Nation and its departments or divisions; any Utah Navajo Chapter, as defined in Section 63-88-101; the Navajo Utah Commission; Utah state agencies or subdivisions; the Navajo Trust Fund; or nonprofit corporations that are or may be socially or economically impacted, directly or indirectly, by mineral resource development.

Priority Projects

  • Capital projects and infrastructure, including electrical power, water, and other one-time need projects. Housing projects including purchase of new housing, construction of new housing or significant remodeling of existing housing. Matching educational endowments that promote economic development; promote Navajo culture, history and language; support postsecondary educational opportunities for Navajo students.
  • List of Approved Projects for FY-06

Prohibited Activities

  • Start-up or operational costs of private business ventures. General operating budgets of the eligible entities.
  • Projects or programs operating or located outside the Navajo Reservation in San Juan County.

Funding Process

  • The NRF reviews applications and authorizes funding assistance on a periodic basis.  Meetings are held the first Monday of January, March, June, August, October, and December.

Funding Guidelines

  • All applications must contain matching funds.  No project or program that does not receive matching monies or in-kind services from the applicant agency will be funded by the NRF.
  • Each year, at the August meeting, the NRF allocates its annual revenue between Non-Chapter Projects and a separate set-aside for each of the seven Utah Navajo Chapters.

For more information, contact Keith Heaton at (801) 538-8732.