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.