Entrepreneur Resources

Tribal-union initiative gets members on long-term career paths

WIND RIVER, Wyo. - The Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapahoe Tribes recently announced that 50 Native trainees from the Wind River and other reservations have gone through the Permanent Jobs Creation Initiative, and that 47 have received jobs with a union contractor providing a career path to a better future for them and their families. The 94 percent success rate for the reservation-based training program - with many of the union apprentice level members former welfare recipients - is a unique blend of entities committed to spurring economic and human development on the reservation. Read more...

First Interstate Foundation Provides $14,000 for Native American Business Development

HELENA, MT – First Interstate Bank Foundation has donated $14,000 in private funds to the Montana Department of Commerce to encourage Native American business development in Montana. The funds will enable the Montana Department of Commerce to provide additional grants to two Montana Native American business owners through the Montana Indian Equity Fund. Read more...

The National Native American Non-Profit Directory

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Administration for Native Americans is committed to fostering economic and social development in Native American communities and has developed the National Native American Non-Profit Directory to forward that goal. Read more...

Business-owning Households More Likely Than Others to Have Higher Income and Wealth

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Does small business ownership help increase a household’s overall well-being? One way to look at this is to examine how the income and wealth of households owning small businesses changed in the most recent economic expansion and recovery period. That task was undertaken in a study just released by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy.

“The report released today finds that households owning small firms in the 1998-2007 period were more likely than other households to be in the top 50 percent in income and wealth,” said Susan M. Walthall, Acting Chief Counsel for Advocacy. “It will be important to continue to examine this data series to assess the well-being of small businesses in the current economic environment.” Read more...

President Obama Outlines Latest in a Series of New Small Business Proposals - Successful SBA programs Expanded To Increase Working Capital, Help Businesses Refinance

WASHINGTON - Today in Lanham, Maryland, President Obama proposed the expansion of two critical Small Business Administration (SBA) lending programs, aimed at allowing small businesses to refinance and increasing limits for working capital. These are both legislative proposals designed to help small businesses through what continues to be a difficult period in credit markets.

President Obama said, "The true engine of job creation will always be businesses. What government can do is fuel that engine: by giving entrepreneurs and companies the support to open their doors, expand, and hire more workers. Today, we're taking another step towards assisting small business owners get the capital they need to grow and hire." Read more...

FINANCIAL RESOURCES/TOOLS

Generic Overview of New Market Tax Credits (PDF)
By: Claudette Konola, Community Reinvestment Fund

New Market Tax Credits & Other Funding Opportunities (PDF)
By: Arlen Kangas, CFO, Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corporation

Treasury's New Markets Tax Credit Program Named One of Top 50 in the Innovations in American Government Awards Competition

Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED)
Link to Loan Guaranty, Insurance, and Interest Subsidy Program

First Nations Development Institute has been working to restore Native American control and culturally-compatible stewardship of the assets they own - be they land, human potential, cultural heritage, or natural resources - and to establish new assets for ensuring the long-term vitality of Native communities and serves rural and reservation based Native American communities throughout the United States.

First Nations Oweesta Corporation works to provide opportunities for Native people to develop assets and create wealth by assisting in the establishment of strong, permanent institutions and programs, contributing to economic independence and strengthening sovereignty for all Native communities.