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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (March 1, 1998)
4 Business Smoke Signals Grants available for Native American Economic Development First Nations Development Institute is seeking to fund Native American projects which promote cul turally appropriate and sustainable economic de velopment on Native American reservations and in Native communities through its Eagle Staff Fund. The Eagle Staff Fund is a national grant-making program that provides technical assistance and grants to Native American controlled projects which harness the spirit of entrepreneurship and Native cultures. Eagle Staff Fund grants are for reservation or community based efforts which will have a direct economic benefit for the community. To date, the Eagle Staff Fund has awarded over $4.1 million to 83 grantees located in 23 states. The Eagle Staff Fund offers three different lev els of economic development grants to tribes. Native non-profit community organizations, and Native individuals; seed (up to $5,000), start-up (up to $75,000) and working capital (up to $150,000 multi-year). First Nation is seeking ap plications for projects that are models for cultur ally appropriate economic development. Seed grants are for emerging groups or existing organizations to identify and develop creative ap proaches to economic development. Eagle Staff Fund seed grants have been used to explore hy droelectricity as a business option, develop a Na tive American business association, and challenge a reservoir that would flood a tribe's traditional hunting grounds and sacred sites. Start-up grants are for projects implementation or expansion. Grants at this level include tradi tional agriculture projects, furniture manufactur ing business, quilter's cooperative, and culture tour ism businesses. Typical working capital projects are for trib-ally-run enterprises that in turn generate profits or benefits for other tribal or community-wide projects. Examples include an oyster farm, pub lishing company, citrus and avocado agribusiness, micro enterprise loan fund, and a health clinic. First Nation Development Institute is a Native run and led non-profit organization to help Native American communities gain economic self-sufficiency. The Eagle Staff Fund was launched in October 1993 to provide resources that enable Native peoples to fulfill their needs as they view them and as they aspire to solve them. , For more information on First Nations' programs, please call (540) 371-5615. ENTREPRENEUR FOCUO. Richard McGee dives into restaurant business By Tracy Dugan Richard McGee, owner of The Place restaurant in Dallas, Oregon has been in business only four months, and already knows he made the right decision. He and his wife Teresa (pictured at right) have worked in the restaurant business for many years, and finally decided to have a go at it them selves. The Place is a very casual family restau rant open for break fast, lunch and din ner serving home made comfort foods like biscuits and gravy, pan cakes, waffles, hamburgers, milkshakes, patty melts, pies, meat loaf, chicken fried steak and the whole gamut of Americana cuisine. It's the kind of place you can take the whole fam ily. And even though he hasn't been open very long, Richard already knows his regular custom ers, and they know him pretty well, too. After all, he's also the chef. "I have twenty years of experience in this busi ness," said Richard. "I started out as a dishwasher and worked my way up in management." Richard was a chef at Bailer's Family Restaurant for four teen years before deciding to go out on his own. "We don't serve alcohol because we want every one to feel comfortable in a relaxing, family atmo sphere." Richard said it didn't take him long at all to get all the health and business licenses he needed to open for business, and that the whole endeavor just kind of fell in his lap. . j I " n mm !" - "I had been working at Bailer's for years and years," he said. "I wasn't really thinking I needed to open my own business, but I was ready for a change. I thought maybe I would apply at the Casino's restaurants or something like that." But then Richard's wife learned about the oppor tunity to buy The Place, and everything came to gether. Teresa works as a waitress and they each have different shifts, but usually work during the day. "I have three waitresses and three cooks, and some of them take over at night. I usually get done about 3 p.m., so I can be home by the time my son gets home from school," said Richard. Their son, Christopher, is 8. "When you have a business, it's important to make time for your family." Richard is also taking the Small Business Devel opment classes, "Starting a Successful Business," taught by Shelley Hanson. The Place, located at 608 Main Street in Dallas, is open daily from 5:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. Construction business wanted for directory The Small Business Development Division is put ting together our own directory of tribal members and Native Americans in the Construction Busi ness. We would like to include everyone that does related work as well, such as brick laying, house painting, carpetlinoleum installation, telephone wiring, electricians, plumbers, drywallers, etc. We plan to share this directory with Tribal Coun cil and anyone else who would be interested in having a copy. For information to be included in this directory, please give us a call at 879-2476 or 1-800-422-0232, ext. 2476. Tax time: no need to panic! Small Business Development provides software and instruction to prepare your own 1997 income tax returns. However, the SBD staff will provide full service preparation for tribal Elders. It is important to note that the computer lab is often in use for classes, you must call in advance to set up your computer lab appointment. Please call Barbara Lake at 879-2476 or 1-800-422-0232, ext. 2476. Starting a successful business By popular demand, a second class is being of fered by ONABEN and the Tribe's Small Business Development department. The "Starting a Success ful Business" class is a ten-week series of classes designed to guide participants through the business plan writing process. The course materials and individual counseling sessions allow participants to work through the business planning process. The end result is a comprehensive business plan that can b& taken to financial institutions for loan consideration! This is an accredited class. Classes will be held on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. for 10 weeks, starting March 3 at Nanitch Sahallie located at 5119 River Road in Keizer, OR. For more information or to sign-up: call 879 2476 or 1-800-422-0232 ext. 2476. MONDAY from 1 to 3:30 p.m March 2 or 30: Beginning Windows 3.1 March 9: Beginning Windows '95 March 1 6: Intermediate Windows 3.1 March 23: Intermediate Windows '95 WEDNESDAY from 9 to 1 1 :30 a.m. March 4 or 1 8: Group Wise March 1 1 : Beginning Microsoft Word March 25: Beginning Word Perfect FRIDAY from 9 to 1 1 :30 a.m. March 6 or 20: Introduction to the Internet March 1 3: Beginning Excel March 27: Intermediate Excel FREE to tribal members and staff. $ 1 0 for non-tribal members. You must pre-register for classes. Call Doug Hampton at 879-2484 or Barbara Lake at 879-2476. The computer lab is located at 28840 Salmon River Highway and is open for use, please call first for availability.
