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THE CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE GRAND RONDE COMMUNITY OF OREGON OCTOBER 1991
COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
REPORT
The Community Center construction is well underway
with the foundation in and framing of the walls begin
ning. All of the utilities for sewer, water and electric
have been installed for the underground portion and the
rough out will occur after the framing is completed. The
project is still scheduled for completion sometime in
February 1992. Over the next several weeks the building
will actually begin to take shape as the walls and roof go
up and some of the parking is completed. The general
contractor has been extremely fortunate with the warm
weather we have had and we hope it continues for as
long as we need it.
There has been an increased interest in employment
opportunities with the construction of this project and
both the general contractor and our project manager are
doing everything they can to ensure that any openings
are filled with tribal members. Towards this effort we
have established an exclusive extension for interested
individuals to call to inquire about any employment
opportunities with the construction of the Community
Center. If you are interested in employment opportuni
ties call: (503) 879-5211 or 1-800-422-0232 ext. 112.
In other community development news, Mr. Jim
Parpart has been hired as the Associate Planner to help
complete the code development project over the next
two years. With the completion of the code project the
Tribe will have it's Land Use, Building, Zoning, Com
mercial and Tax codes in place for the future regulation
and development of our community.
Upon completion of the Community Center we hope
to schedule an open house for all of the community to
see Grand Ronde's first new building and a facility
which will provide space for educatinal, community,
medical and meeting needs for all of our community for
many years to come.
GENERAL COUNCIL
MEETING
OCTOBER 6, 1991
11:30 a.m.
GRAND RONDE GRADE
SCHOOL
MEAL PROVIDED,
FOLLOWING MEETING
University ol Oregon Lit'tar
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Perri McDaniel of Vancouver Wa. was our $100.00 socio-economic survey winner. (Back left to right) Eagle, Perri,
and Mitch Conley. (Front left to right) Two Stars, High Pine, Delia and Eleesha Littleboy.
SMALL BUSINESS TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE
There is now another source of technical assistance for
those of you developing new businesses, or working out
the bugs in existing businesses. Oregon Native Ameri
can Business & Entrepreneurial Network (ONABEN)
was developed by the Tribe's Economic Development
Director, Mitch Conley. ONABEN is a coalition of four
of the Oregon tribes working together to provide
consistent and appropriate business counseling and
assistance to Native American people. In addition to
the Grand Ronde Tribe, Siletz, Warm Springs and
Klamath are the founding member tribes involved in the
project. ;
ONABEN is being funded by the Small Business
Administration (SBA) as a model pilot project. If
successful, the program will be used on other reserva
tions to meet the unique needs of Native American
entrepreneurs. The main focus of ONABEN is business
planning, funding, troubleshooting, as well as training
business owners in various aspects of business manage
ment. Wes Patterson, Executive Director worked
previously with the Small Business Development Center
in Lincoln City. Wes has business experience in a
multitude of industries, and the enthusiasm and drive to
see you through the necessary steps of your project.
Wes has been instrumental in securing financing for
several tribal member owned businesses.
ONABEN is currently hiring two business consultants
to work full time with clients. One will work with the
Grand Ronde and Siletz Tribes, and the other with the
Warm Springs and Klamath Tribes. For assistance
contact Wes at 965-6656 or write to ONABEN at P.O.
Box 9, Grand Ronde, OR. 97347
VETERANS AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
NEEDS
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS
Over 11,000 Oregon veterans and dependents receiving
compensation and pension benefits from the U. S.
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are being asked
to provide their Social Security numbers in order to
remain eligible for monthly payments.
The disclosure requirement, included in the Omnibus
Budget Reconcilation Act of 1990, will permit the VA to
match its beneficiary rolls against files of other agencies
to verify continued eligibility.
The VA has Social Security numbers for most of its 3.5
million compensation and pension beneficiaries. But,
computer matches by the General Accounting Office
and the VA's Office of Inspector General revealed that
the missing information is blamed for a large number of
overpayments to other beneficiaries who, for example,
may be receiving benefit payments for the VA that
should be offset against payments from another federal
agency.
VA Chief Benefits Director D'Wayne Gray said, "This
action is necessary to ensure the integrity of our benefits
payment system and those of other federal agencies.
The law does not require that our beneficiaries have a
Social Security Number. If they do not, they simply have
to tell us," he added.
Requests for Social Security Numbers have been sent
to long-time recipients and those who have payments
sent directly to financial institutions. It is the latter
group that is of concern to the VA. "We can't be certain
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