A sign at Jemez Pueblo in New Mexico. Photo by Alex Kalish
The Bureau of Indian Affairs has awarded $947,406 in grants for economic development studies throughout the country. The money comes from the Native American Business Development Institute Feasibility Study Program at the BIA's Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development. Twenty tribes, plus one Alaska Native corporation, will use the funds to evaluate and identify economic opportunities in their communities. "The grants empower American Indian and Alaska Native tribal communities with the ability to make informed decisions about business opportunities they are considering, assess complex economic options they may be facing, and strengthen their self-governance," Larry Roberts, the leader of the BIA, said in a press release. "This year’s grants will fund studies for diverse projects ranging from farming operations, restaurants, retail facilities, a shopping center and grocery stores to an airpark, a wood pellet manufacturing plant, and an RV park." Competition for the grants was tough. According to the BIA, 66 tribes submitted requests, seeking more than $4.3 million in funding. The list of grantees, along with their projects, follows:
• Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana: $70,000 to study the feasibility of installing a Sprole Irrigation System.
• Bay Mills Indian Community, Michigan: $64,000 to study the feasibility of forming the Great Lakes Composites Institute.
• Bishop Paiute Tribe, California: $18,000 to study the feasibility of developing a fast food restaurant.
• Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon: $35,000 to study the feasibility of developing a grocery store.
• Forest County Potawatomi Community,Wisconsin: $30,000 to study the feasibility of building healthy communities through tribal food systems.
• Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribes of the Fort McDermitt Indian Reservation, Nevada and Oregon: $36,000 to study the feasibility of developing a trading post and variety retail store at the Red Mountain Travel Plaza, off of Highway 95, three miles south of the Nevada town of McDermitt.
• Haida Corporation, Alaska: $22,129 to study the feasibility of a rental cabins project.
• Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah: $20,000 to study potential commercial development.
• Nez Perce Tribe, Idaho: $59,250 to study the feasibility of operating a tribal farming business.
Nulato Village, Alaska: $55,000 to study the feasibility of operating a lumber mill and timber management program.
• Osage Nation, Oklahoma: $55,000 to study the feasibility of operating an Osage Tulsa Airpark.
• Pauma Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pauma & Yuima Reservation, California: $62,226 to study the feasibility of operating Pauma Farms.
• Poarch Band of Creek Indians, Alabama: $30,000 to study the feasibility of operating a community garden and agricultural expansion program.
• Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico: $75,000 to study the feasibility of developing a wood pellet manufacturing business.
• Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico: $22,000 to study the feasibility of constructing an intermodal facility on tribal land.
• Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, Nevada: $56,517 to study the feasibility of developing a shopping center.
• Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona: $60,000 to study the potential commercial uses of 58 acres acquired under the Cobell Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations.
• Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of the Fort Hall Reservation, Idaho: $67,862 to study the feasibility of operating a fresh pack plant.
• Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada (Elko Band): $39,960 to study the feasibility of operating a full-service, family style restaurant and tourist center.
• Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma: $38,861 to study the feasibility of developing a recreational vehicle park.
• Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska: $30,000 to study the feasibility of constructing homes insulated with straw bales.
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