American Indian Disability Technical Assistance Center (AIDTAC)ⁱ

Many of the business enterprises in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities are tribally owned. Recently small individually owned enterprises have also become more important in the economic base of AI/AN tribes.

Recent Economic Census data indicated that the percentage of American Indian and Alaska Natives (AIAN) grew 83.7% from 1992 to 1997 (U.S. Census Bureau, 1997). In 2000, new figures reported a 35 % increase over the past two years in the number of individually owned tribal businesses that have opened. In the service, construction and retail sectors, AI/AN companies are growing faster than U.S. companies as a whole.

In addition to economic disadvantage, the AI/AN communities also have the highest percentage of persons with disabilities of any population in the United States. People who indicated that they are AI/AN had an activity limitation rate of 18.9% and people who indicated that they were AI/AN and White (mixed heritage) had an activity limitation rate of 22.0% in 2001 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2003).

The disabled community as a whole has also discovered the benefits of self-employment. According to a poll conducted by the National Organization on Disability between 1986 and 1994, a majority of working age people with disabilities who were not employed wanted to work. The 1990 census shows that people with disabilities have a higher rate of self employment than people without disabilities.

Self-employment is an important opportunity for persons with disabilities of any ethnicity; however American Indian entrepreneurs face a lack of technical assistance and access to capital. A recent survey conducted by the National Congress of American Indian found that less than one third of tribes operated revolving loan funds or provided advisory services for start-up businesses. Even if American Indian entrepreneurs overcome numerous obstacles to start a business, they may not have enough skills or capital to sustain it.

The American Indian Disability Technical Assistance Center is a program that provides technical assistance leading to self employment for AI/AN with a disability. In response to a need to compile capitalization sources for the AI/AN entrepreneur; AIDTAC conducted a web search in May and June of 2004. While this list of sources is not all inclusive, it provides information on a variety of funding.

Some programs offer a revolving loan structure and others offer grants or business loans. Other programs are available to specific tribal members only or some sources are available to all of the disabled population. Also included are some entrepreneurship funding sources that are available to all populations. If you know of other capitalization sources, please contact our office at (406) 243-5441 and we will include them in future updates.

Social Security Administration
Office of Employment Support Programs
Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS)
http://www.ssa.gov/work/ResourcesToolkit/pass.html

Small Business Association
Office of Native American Affairs
http://www.sba.gov/naa/

Family Self-Sufficiency Program:
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/programs/hcv/fss.cfm

State

State sources are partially listed. For a complete state by state list go to:

State Economic Development Resources
http://janweb.icdi.wvu.edu/SBSES/ECONOMICDEVELOPMENT.HTM

Entrepreneurs with Disabilities (EWD)
Iowa Dept. of Economic Development
200 East Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 242-4819
http://www.iowasmart.com/services/small_business/ewd/html

Lake Agassiz Regional Development Corporation
417 Main Avenue
Fargo, ND 58103
(701) 235-1197
http://www.lakeagassiz.com/lardc/lardcmain.html

MCDC-Montana Community Development Corporation
110 East Broadway
Missoula, MT 59802
(406) 728-9234
http://www.mtcdc.org/

Tribal

The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs/Home Ownership and Business Development IDA Program
P.O. Box 849
Warm Springs, OR 97761
no website available
(541) 553-3245

Cherokee Nation/Microenterprise Development Association
P.O. Box 948
Tahlequah, OK 74465
(918) 456-0671 Ext. 2880
http://www.cherokee.org/Services/CommerceService.asp?ID=MicroEnterprise

Four Bands Community Fund, Inc.
P.O. Box 932
Eagle Butte, SD 57625
(605) 964-3687
http://www.fourbands.org

Cook Inlet Tribal Council/IDA Program
670 West Fireweed Lane
Anchorage, AK 99503
(907) 265-7916
http://www.citci.com/index.html

Gila River Entrepreneurship Program
P.O. Box 97
Sacaton, AZ 85247
(520) 562-6120
http://www.gilariverdevelopment.com/entrepreneurship.htm

The Lakota Fund
The Lakota Trade Center
Suite 201
P.O. Box 340
Kyle, S.D. 57752
(605) 455-2500
http://www.lakotafund.org

Charkoosta Loan Fund
P.O. Box 70
Pablo, MT 59855
(406) 275-4800
no website available

Private/Fundation

ACCESS
2612 Daniel Ave.
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 560-0871
http://www.access2jobs.org/

The Abilities Fund
332 S. Linn St., Suite 15
Iowa City, IA 52240
(866) 720-3863
http://www.abilitiesfund.org

Trickle Up Program
104 W. 27th St. 12th Floor
New York, NY 10001-6210
(866) 246-9980
http://www.trickleup.org

Association for Enterprise Opportunity
1601 North Kent Street, Suite 1101
Arlington, Virginia 22209
(703) 841-7748
http://www.microenterpriseworks.org

Minority Owned Banks/Financial Institutions

Bank2
909 S. Meridian
Oklahoma City, OK 73108
(405) 946-2265
Chickasaw Tribe owner
http://www.bank2.biz/bank2home.asp

Bay Bank
255 Packer Land Drive
Green Bay, WI 54313-5735
(920) 490-7600
Oneida Nation of Wisconsin owner
http://www.baybankgb.com

Borrego Springs Bank
547 Palm Canyon Drive
Borrego Springs, CA 92004
(760) 767-5035
Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians owners
http://www.borregospringsbank.com

Canyon National Bank
P.O. Box 1521
Palm Springs, CA 92263
(760) 325-4442
Agua Caliente Bank of Cahuilia Indians, partial owners
http://www.canyonnational.com

First Heritage Bank
P.O. Box 17490
Marysville, WA 98270
(360) 659-6312
Tulalip Tribe partial owners
http://www.firstheritage.net

First National Bank and Trust
P.O. Box 68
Shawnee, OK 74802-0068
(405) 275-8830
Citizen Potawatami Nation owner
http://www.fnbshawnee.com

First National Bank of Calumet
112 East Main
Calumet, OK 73014
(405) 893-2240
Chickasaw Tribe owner
no website available

Native American Bank
125 Public Square
Browning, MT 59417
(406) 338-7000
Native American Bancorporation owner
http://www.nabna.com

Woodlands National Bank
500 Main Street
Onamia, MN 56359
(320) 532-4142
Mille Lacs Bank of Ojibwa owners
http://www.woodlandsnationalbank.com

Access to Capital

Bureau of Indian Affairs Loan Guaranty Program
Description: This program was established by the Indian Financing Act of 1974 to stimulate and increase American Indian and Native Alaskan entrepreneurship and employment through establishment, acquisition or expansion of Indian or Native Alaskan owned economic enterprises.

Cascadia Revolving Fund
Description: Non-profit community development financial institution that provides loans and technical assistance to entrepreneurs unable to access traditional financing and support.

Count Me In Loans
Description: Count Me In provides loans from $500 to $10,000. Your first loan must be $5000 or less. Each time you repay a loan in full, you are eligible to borrow again from Count Me In. The interest rate on a Count Me In loan is 13%. Terms for a CMI loan will be from 6 months to 84 months, depending on the amount of your loan. All first loans must be repaid in 18 months or less. Loans can be used for working capital, purchase of inventory or equipment, marketing materials for a sales event, or other uses that will help your business generate cash.

FEDERAL GRANT RESOURCES LINKS PAGE
Description: The U.S. Small Business Administration does not offer grants to start or expand small businesses, although it does offer a wide variety of loan programs. (See http://www.sba.gov/financing for more information) While SBA does offer some grant programs, these are generally designed to expand and enhance organizations that provide small business management, technical, or financial assistance. These grants generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments. (See Federal and State Technology Partnership Program and visit New Markets Venture Capital Program.)

Ketchikan Area Arts and Humanities Council
Description: Welcome to the Ketchikan Area Arts and Humanities Council, located in Ketchikan, Alaska. We are an umbrella organization for local art groups as well as offering the Torch Nights Performance Series, exhibitions in the Mainstay Gallery, art education opportunities and much more.

OREGON ASSOCIATION OF MINORITY ENTREPRENEURS
Description: OAME is a non-profit, tax exempt organization formed to promote and develop entrepreneurship and economic development for ethnic minorities in the State of Oregon. OAME works as a partnership between ethnic minorities, entrepreneurs, education, government and established corporate businesses.

US Dept. of Business and Industry Loan Guarantee Program
Description: Promoting a dynamic business environment in rural America is the goal of Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), Business Programs (BP). BP works in partnership with the private sector and the community-based organizations to provide financial assistance and business planning. BP helps fund projects that create or preserve quality jobs and/or promote a clean rural environment. The financial resources of RBS BP are often leveraged with those of other public and private credit source lenders to meet business and credit needs in under-served areas. Recipients of these programs may include individuals, corporations, partnerships, cooperatives, public bodies, nonprofit corporations, Indian tribes, and private companies.

References

Holub, T. (2003). Entrepreneurship among People with Disabilities. Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership Clearinghouse on Entrepreneurship Education. Retrieved May 4, 2004 from website: http://www.celcee.edu.

Seymour, N. (2003). Native American entrepreneurship. Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership on Entrepreneurial Education. retrieved May 4, 2004 from website http://www.celcee.edu.

Stoddard, S., Jans, L., Ripple, J. and Kraus, L. (1998). Chartbook on work and disability in the United States, 1998. An InfoUse Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.

U.S. Census Bureau. (2000). Disability Status: 2000 [News Brief]. Available from U.S. Census Web site: http://www.census.gov.

Wellner, A.S. (2001). Discovering Native America. American Demographics. Aug.2001.

i The American Indian Disability Technical Assistance Center (AIDTAC) strives to support American Indians and Alaska Natives in their efforts to improve employment opportunities and vocational rehabilitation outcomes wherever they live in the United States.

We are committed to helping tribes build their capacity to develop and implement culturally appropriate laws and policies, cross-cutting infrastructure, and direct program services.

AIDTAC operates five training and technical assistance components:

• Information Dissemination and Outreach Training

• Intensive Training and Technical Assistance

• Technical Assistance with Resource Development and Program Implementation

• National Tribal and Non-Tribal Agency Network

• American Indian Disability Leadership Development

AIDTAC's Goals

• Help tribes create holistic plans to fill the gaps in their disability infrastructure.

• Help tribes review, modify or create laws and policies that reduce barriers to independent living.

• Help tribes review, modify or create laws and policies that facilitate employment opportunities for members with disabilities.

• Help tribes effectively coordinate disability issues on reservations.

• Help tribal programs expand, improve or create services by identifying potential links, and to facilitate cooperative agreements with non-tribal organizations.

• Enhance the capacity of non-tribal agencies to work with tribes in a way that respects culture and sovereignty.

• Establish a national network of tribal programs, non-tribal organizations, and consumers to advocate for important American Indian disability issues at the tribal, state, regional and national levels.

• Identify, recruit and mentor American Indians and Alaskan Natives with disabilities into significant leadership positions.