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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 1994)
1 Smoke Signals September 1994 Page 10 Business Entrepreneur of Steve Bobb owns and operates Bobb Art and Design, fromhis home inWillamina. His three sons work with him. He is in the business of paining logos and lettering on business signs and vehicles. Steve began painting cars in 1972, and it became a full-time job by 1977. In Willamina, there are so many local timber companies, Steve has painted the lettering on log trucks for almost every one of them. "Log trucks and that industry is just one avenue to pursue in this business," said Steve. "There are a lot of businesses that need designs and logos." Steve and his family have lived in Willamina for so long, people have become familiar with his work, and know him. He, in turn, is well- informed about the local economy, and keeps up what businesses might need his services. For example, there is an RV park opening in Dundee, and he is interested in offering his painting services to them. However, Steve no longer operates Conley appointed to Advisory Board Mitch Conley, Small Business Development Division Manager has recently been appointed to serve on the American Indian Business Advisory Council. American Indian Business is a pubhcauonfocusingon the successes of Indian tribes and individual tribal members. The Advisory Council consists of five men and women from all over the United States who will advise the publishers on ways to market and promote the magazine, develop circulation, as well as suggest story ideas and themes. The magazine is the official publication of the National Indian Business Association (NBA). "The board members will help ensure Indian businesses are adequately represented in trade," Tribal member business registry Tribal member businesses wanting to bid on projects with Spirit Mountain Development Corporation will need tobe registered with the Small Business Development Department ofthe Tribe. As a registered Grand Ronde tribal business, participants will receive all tribal and Spirit Moumain Development RFPs (request for proposals) and bid requests. (Keep in mind that Spirit Mountain Development Corporation will not accept bids from tribally-owned business not registered.) Small Business Development will assist tribal members in meeting the bonding and insurance requests per bid specifications. Start-up businesses can receive planning assistance to qualify for future tribal business projects. Any Grand Ronde tribal member owned business can register by contacting the Small Business Development staff members: Mitch Conley, Shelley Hanson, Elaine Moore, or Debby Childers at 1-800-422-0232. the Month: Steve his business full-time. He went back to work as a sign designer for Salem Sign Company, where he puts together the art and lettering for businesses in Salem. One of his recent business projects was the new elders' van. "I like working in Salem and painting part-time," he said. "It's a good feeling knowing that I have steady income coming in." This way, Steve is able to pick bagMM v . , ' .JV JIM J Kir y Steve Bobb at home in Willamina, Mitch said. Aco-founder of ONABEN, Mitch and the Small Business Development staff have had the opportunity to help a lot of tribal members get their businesses off the ground. "Being selected to be on this board was a terrific honor," he said. "But it never would have happened if the Grand Ronde Tribal Council hadn't set a remarkable example of leadership by committing timber revenues to this program." After restoration, Tribal Council voted to set aside 30of the timber revenue for economic development "At that time, no other tribe was making financial commitments like that," said Mitch. "In my Bobb and choose the projects he wants to undertake. For example, he said he is really interested in painting and designing the signs for the Tribe's new gaming facility. But what he really wants to do is sculpt. "For now, our bag is cars," he said. "WeVehavedoneneonsigns, vehicles, and tee-shirts. Almost everything. Eventually I'll begin to lean into more of the artsy stuff." research, I have found Grand Ronde to be the first tribe to recognize the importance of small businesses. This tribe set a precedent, to commit revenue to the private sector, and it has gotten us noticed." Mich Conley .. aiHIWW"ll' -. I l V 3 j I" ONABEN classes to begin If you're a tribal member considering the possibility of owning your own business, the Oregon Native American Business and Entrepreneurial Network (ONABEN) may be able to help you get started. ONABEN is an organization created by four Northwest tribes (including Grand Ronde) to increase the success of Native American owned businesses. Patrick Borunda, ONABEN's executive director, says ONABEN is about fundamentally changing the economy of Indian Country. "Private Indian enterprises are not very well developed," he said. "Ourprogram gives tribal members the knowledge and skills they need to develop their idea." The fact is, of all minority-owned businesses in the United States, Native Americans have the fewest The number of Indian people in business for themselves in minute in comparison to the number of blacks, Asians, and Hispanics who own businesses. ONABEN classes will soon begin and will be available to Grand Ronde tribal members. The first of the ONABEN classes is call DISCOVERY. It is a four-week course that is designed to give potential business owners an idea of what's involved in going into business and the decisions involved. The next phase in a ten-week' course, called GREENHOUSE. In it, participants will develop a business plan, which they can use to present to bank and investors, and will give them a clear picture of what they are trying to accomplish in owning a business. ONABEN is working on marketing and microlending and would like to develop a network catalog that would allow Indian businesses to work with each other for the services they need. Because of a three-year grant ONABEN has received from the Small Business Administration, the organization will be able to offer U.S. MINORITY BUSINESS ALL BUSINESSES 29 35 35 1987 OWNERSHIP IS BLACK ClHISPANIC III Note: Percent may not add to 100 due to duplication Source: 1987 Census of Business ICI ONABEN 1N4 Tj r ftl r Patrick Borunda classes to all nine Oregon tribes. This year, ONABEN has trained 130 Native American people in Grand Ronde, Klamath, Warm Springs, and Siletz service areas, and 25 new businesses have been started. "For 1995 we hope to hit our target number of serving 1 80 tribal members, and have at least 40 new businesses come out of that," said Patrick Borunda. "If we succeed, we anticipate nearly $ 1 1 million in new earnings to be circulating in Indian Country over the next three years." ONABEN plans to build ties with the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) in order to expand its services. Patrick would like to develop programs in Washington and Idaho. ONABEN has certain microlending capabilities, which can assist people in getting loans up to $25,000. ONABEN classes begin October 11 in Grand Ronde. For more information contact Small Business Developmental 1-800-422-0232. OWNERSHIP AND RECEIPTS NOT PUBLICLY TRADED 32 43 1987 RECEIPTS ASIANPI B NATIVE AMERICAN Y among firms Figure 1
