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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 15, 2001)
SpilyMy Tymoo, Wqrm Springs, Oregon November 15, 2001 Pqge 5 Ideas abound when it comes to developing economy The following are some new local business ideas ihat were discussed last week at High IM)kee l.ndgc, during a commu nity meeting of the Warm i Springs Economic Develop ment Corp.: An K Bay Internet site offer ing guilts, haskets, headwork and other crafts made by tribal members, , A buffalo ranch, offering for sale buffalo meat from animals raised on the reservation. An automotive recycling and education business. A computer recycling busi ness. A bank. A telemarketing business. There has been no shortage 'of ideas, but the people involved in the Kconomic Development 'Corp. arc always open to new suggestions. The corporation has been funded with $2 million by -Tribal Council. With this start up capital, people with the right kinds of business ideas very well could see their projects funded, said Tom Henderson, chief ex ecutive of the corporation. At the community meeting last week, Henderson outlined some factors that would make an idea a good one for potential funding from the Warm Springs Kconomic Development Corp. An ideal business, he said, would be one that can be up and running within a six-month pe riod. The business would need $5(H),0(H) or less in funding, and would generate return revenue immediately. Another factor would be that the business would be labor intensive, creat ing several jobs. A business idea that met some or all of those criteria would be given a top priority by the Warm Springs Kconomic Development Corp., said Henderson. As an example, the 1 . i K Bay Internet sales idea would fall within this category, he said. I .ess desirable business ideas are those that would take longer than six months to establish; would rccjuirc more than a $500,000 investment; would not have a return on investment for some time, perhaps a number of years; and would not create many jobs. In the past five weeks, since the time that Henderson began work in Warm Springs, he has heard close to 30 different new business ideas. Of those, two or three fall into the category that would make them a priority, said Henderson. He and others who arc in volved in the corporation arc encouraging anyone with a busi ness idea to contact Henderson. He has a temporary office in administration building, but is planning to move to the Warm Springs Plaza. Looking for ideas About a doen tribal mem bers attended the community meeting hosted by the Kco nomic Development Corpora tion. At the start of the meet ing, Charles Jackson, secretary- treasurer of the tribes, provided some background information on the corporation. The idea for the corporation had been around for a number years, he said. Then early this year, the Tribal Council formed and provided funding for the corporation. The Tribal Council this sum mer appointed a six-member corporate board of directors, consisting of three tribal mem bers and three non-tribal mem bers. A tribal member must be present for the board to conduct a meeting, said Pinky Beymer, a member of the corporate board. All of the board members, like Henderson, have expertise in private business, and have enjoyed successful business ca reers. The Kconomic Develop ment Corp. is similar to other tribal enterprises, said Charles Jackson. A key difference, he said, is that the corporation is not limited to a particular kind of business activity, the way the other enterprises are. The Economic Development Corp. can pursue most any kind of business that is considered sound and profitable for the tribes. The Tribal Council pro vides general oversight, hut the corporate board is responsible for specific projects. The meeting last week at High I.ookee was a chance for tribal members to become more familiar with the corporation and its purpose. More meetings will happen on a regular basis, said Henderson. "It is essential that we have a dialogue with the community," he said. Pinkey Beymer said, "The board of directors needs to learn what kinds of business ideas are of interest to tribal members. We look forward to hearing from the community. This is a chal lenge, and we need help." So far, the 25 to 30 business proposals for the corporation have come from a wide variety of sources, from companies off reservation that might want to move here, to local residents who feel they have an idea that could make money. The one we may sec first, Henderson said, is the "Warm Springs Guild," an Internet auc tionsales site for items made by tribal members. This could be started for in it very much money. The project would require some computer equipment, access to the Internet, and people to operate the site. This venture would provide many tribal members a chance to sell their art and craft-work to potential customers all over the world, said Henderson. Possible nunie cliunge At the meeting last week, Henderson mentioned that people might find some confu sion in the current name of the Warm Springs Kconomic Devel opment Corp. There is some confusion be cause the tribal government in cludes a branch called the Kco nomic Development Depart ment. The Tribal Council has also established the Warm Springs Community Develop ment Corporation, a non-profit venture (See related item on page 11.) Because of the similarity in the names, and to eliminate the confusion, the Warm Springs Kconomic Development Corpo ration is considering a name change, said Henderson. 2002 tribal budget ... Photo by Mika Van Meter 1 Environmental crews inspecting the Spilyay's basement . found very little mold, but quite a few spiders. Building closure ... 'Jl'' ' Continued fom" Page 1' ' ' ' Molds that are toxic, how ever, can spread through ven tilation systems and cause res piratory ailments in people exposed to the tiny particles. Last week the Education " Building was shut down com ' pletely for several days, forcing employees of Print Shop, Cul ture & Heritage, Education, Gaming Continued from Page 1 The incomes per year are as follows: The trust property near the : town of Hood River: between . $17.5 million to $20.5 million. The Cascade Locks Govern ment Rock property: between $32.5 million to $38.5 million. A Highway 26 casino on the reservation: $4.1 million to $4.9 million'. ' ' r' For a comparison, Indian Head generates' $4 million to ''$4.3 million. The numbers for 'Indian Head do not include ' debt payment for building con struction. v The estimates were devel oped by ECONorthwest, based in Portland, which ''works extensively with Or " egon tribes on gaming projects. ' Councilman Zane Jackson commented that the Cascade ''Locks site is preferred, in part " because of the revenue, and "'also because the people there !l support the tribes' proposal. Video on gaming As part of the community awareness program, the gaming ' committee is currendy produc ing a seven-minute video on 'the Gorge casino proposal. The video includes state ments by Part and other Coun cil members. The film is in ' tended to explain the key rea sons why a Gorge casino would be best for the Confed erated Tribes, and why tribal members should support the Continued from Page 1 At General Council budget meeting last week, Jackson pointed out that the 2002 bud get would include an estimated $17.4 million from enterprise dividends. Tribal enterprises are a source of substantial revenue and local jobs, because years ago tribal officials had the foresight to in vest money wisely, said Jackson. In a similar way, he said, the 2002 proposed budget is look ing toward future years. The budget, for instance, in cludes $2 million for the Warm Springs Economic Develop ment Corp. ' ' i r ing in Warm Springs last week, two tribal members commented that they felt the per capita pay ments should see a bigger in crease. There is money in the budget for larger per capita pay ments, they said. Tribal Council Vice Chair man Garland Brunoe said that in developing the 2002 budget, he and other officials are trying to ensure economic stability for future generations. "We're trying to provide for , our children what we ourselves have enjoyed," Brunoe said, re ferring to past tribal investments . that are now generating revenue r,and jobs. , Central Oregon' Community College and OSU Extension to work elsewhere. Capt. Phil Johnston of Warm Springs Fire and Safety said the testing was done while hazardous materials teams were in Warm Springs to inves tigate the cause of a petroleum smell that closed the ECE Building late last month. referendum. The video will be made available for all tribal members to see, said Rudy Clements. In other news on gaming expansion, discussed at Coun cil meeting last week: Clements said that all of the candidates for Oregon gover nor have indicated support for the Cascade Locks site over the Hood River site. He also said that a coalition of Hood River residents has approached Gov, Kitzhaber about reconsidering his veto of the Cascade Locks site. The coalition includes the cities of Hood River and Cas cade Locks, Hood River County, The Friends of the Gorge, and even the No-Casino group. All of these people are now stating their support for the Cascade Locks site, rather than just opposing the Hood River site, as some had done in the past, Clements said. The Confederated Tribes are not a part of this lobbying effort, as the tribes' earlier at tempt to convince Kitzhaber to allow the Cascade Locks casino was rejected. Tribal officials instead are focusing on gaming expansion to the Hood River trust prop erty. They say the tribal mem bers most likely will see a ref erendum on the proposal by June of 2002. i : The -corporation is promot- ,v, "As. a tribal member," he ing development of new local added, "I see per capita and bo- businesses and jobs, and new sources of revenue for the tribes. "This group is working hard, trying to make something hap pen for the tribes," said Jackson. The proposed 2002 budget includes $5,144 million for per capita payments to tribal mem bers. This is an increase of $248,000 from the $4,896 mil lion per capita amount in the current year budget. At the general council mcct- nus payments as a privilege and not a right." Past generations made long term investments with money that could have been paid out per capita, Brunoe said. These past generations gave up enjoy ing the larger payments, he said, "so that we can enjoy what we have now." Current tribal leaders, he said, are struggling to achieve the same longer term goals. In another comment from tribal members, Arlita Rhoan questioned a $90,000 budget' al location for the Boys & Girls Club. Rhoan said she was con cerned that the Boys & Girls Club was not serving all children on the reservation, only those who can afford the annual fee. This can create some feelings of division among families, said Rhoan. Charles Jackson asked whether elimination of the an nual fee would alleviate this con cern. Rhoan said it would help. She also said the tribes need to take a close look at community counseling and other social pro grams serving tribal members. Tribal member Joseph Winishut asked whether the Tribal Council had plans for use of the Rainbow Market prop erty, which the tribes are con sidering purchasing. The prop erty could be put to good use and generate jobs and revenue, Winishut said. Jackson said that no plans had yet been developed regard ing the property. There are tribal organizations - the Economic Development Corp., and the Kconomic Development De partment, for instance - that would be in a position to con sider ways to use this property, said Jackson. Tribal member Kmma Smith commented that the Tribal Re lations budget should be re duced. Charles Jackson made a pre sentation regarding the long term budget forecast of the tribes. Referring to graphs posted on the wall of the Agency Longhouse, Jackson explained that budget shortfalls were ex pected to continue through the year 201 1. The graph shows the short fall for 2002 budget as smaller than that for 2003, which is the largest shortfall during the 10 year period. After 2003, the budget short fall starts to become smaller, as the difference narrows between anticipated revenue and antici pated expenditures. The Tribal Council on Mon day and Tuesday, Nov. 19 and 20, arc scheduled to consider the 2002 budget. 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