Wisconsin Tribes Collaborate to Launch Small Business Hubs with State Grant Support

Wisconsin Tribes Unite to Launch Small Business Hubs with State Grant

LAC DU FLAMBEAU, Wisc. — In a significant step towards economic empowerment, the Wisconsin Indigenous Housing & Economic Development Corp. (WIHEDC) is collaborating with the state’s 11 federally recognized tribes to establish small business hubs on their reservations. Each tribe is eligible for $90,000 through a state grant aimed at fostering entrepreneurship and economic development.

The initiative, funded by the Wisconsin Department of Administration’s Diverse Business Assistance program, aims to create tailored business support systems that reflect the unique needs and resources of each tribe. So far, WIHEDC has signed memorandums of agreement with six tribes and is on track to finalize partnerships with the remaining five by the end of the year, according to Fern Orie, WIHEDC’s CEO.

During a recent panel at a two-day housing and economic development conference at the Lake of Torches Resort Casino, representatives from various tribes shared their plans for the hubs. “We have a generous grant from DOA to build a native small business hub on every reservation,” Orie explained, emphasizing the flexibility of the initiative to adapt to each tribe’s existing infrastructure.

For instance, the Forest County Potawatomi plans to launch a culturally grounded entrepreneurial training program open to all Wisconsin tribes, while the Menominee Nation has established two free incubator offices equipped with essential resources for budding entrepreneurs. “These spaces will allow entrepreneurs to work on business plans and meet clients,” said Crystal Chevalier, CEO of Menominee Indian Tribe’s Wolf River Development Company.

The Bad River Band has focused on creating a robust policy infrastructure, recently passing a business operations code that offers tribal members various options for organizing businesses. Philomena Kebec, Bad River’s economic development coordinator, highlighted the tribe’s management of a $2 million commercial loan fund to support local entrepreneurs.

Meanwhile, the Oneida Nation is transforming its Community Education Center into a Community Resource Center, providing business planning assistance, digital literacy training, and mentorship connections. “This will enhance our support for local entrepreneurs,” said Sean Powless, manager of the center.

WIHEDC’s broader vision includes establishing hubs with all 11 tribes and creating an online resource directory to connect the tribal entrepreneurship ecosystem. The organization has requested an extension from the DOA to finalize agreements with the remaining tribes, addressing the capacity challenges that tribal entrepreneurs often face.

The initiative has sparked discussions about maintaining a clear separation between business operations and tribal governance. Kebec emphasized the importance of structural separation for successful economic development, stating, “The tribal government cannot run businesses and run government and do both things well at the same time.”

As the tribes move forward with their hub programs, they are adopting various governance models, with some utilizing tribal business entities while others work through planning departments. “The time is now; if we don’t unite as Indigenous people, we’re going to miss the mark,” Orie concluded, highlighting the urgency of collaboration in fostering economic growth.

With the establishment of these small business hubs, Wisconsin tribes are taking a proactive approach to empower their communities and create sustainable economic opportunities for future generations.