Economic Development: Montana tribes will be the first to own a hydroelectric dam - Most of the people who run Kerr Dam on northwest Montana's Flathead Reservation sit hundreds of miles away, and some are even across the country, in the offices of Pennsylvania Power and Light. But that's likely to change in 2015, when the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes have the option to buy the dam, thereby becoming the country's first tribal hydroelectric owners and operators. Comment: Given that cold fusion power plants are on the verge of becoming commercially viable, I would be very cautious about something like this.

Economic Development: Amazonian Biochar - The ancients of the Amazon held the secret to producing a kind of fertilizer that far exceeds anything modern science has produced. It does this by turning ordinary dirt into "terra preta," or black earth. Tribes that employ this method to fertilize the farm and forestry land on their reservations may heal the Earth and boost their productivity--and profitability--at the same time.

Economic Development: Tribes play a key role in economic development - In Washington state, there are 29 federally recognized tribes. In each of the counties that these tribes reside they are often one of the area’s major employers. In short, tribes make a huge impact on the economics of Washington state.

Economic Development: Amazonian Charcoal - The ancients of the Amazon held the secret to producing a kind of fertilizer that far exceeds anything modern science has produced. It does this by turning ordinary dirt into "terra preta," or black earth. Tribes that employ this method to fertilize the farm and forestry land on their reservations may heal the Earth and boost their productivity--and profitability--at the same time.

Economic Development: Tribes Build Sustainable Future With Few Resources - Successes in Native American forestry, despite huge financial challenges, are proving a model for future stewardship, according to the Indian Forestry Management Assessment Team (IFMAT). “The tribes have been here for thousands of years,” says George Smith, executive director of Oregon’s Coquille Tribe. “They have a direct connection to the land and the long-term consequences of its management.”

Economic Development: Help for American Indian Entrepreneurs - There is general help for entrepreneurs provided through the U.S. Small Business Administration. For American Indians, Native Alaskans, and Native Hawaiians, the SBA’s Office of Native American Affairs offers specialized help, entrepreneurial development training, and lending and procurement programs.

Economic Development: Local tourism industry enjoys building spree - Tourism generates more than $260 million a year in sales and taxes and is responsible for 3,500 jobs, making it the third-largest economic sector in Kitsap County. It’s also one of the fastest-growing industries and creating a boon of construction, public works, park and retail projects along with hundreds of new jobs.

Economic Development: The Growing Economic Might of Indian Country - The financial impact of Indian gaming beyond Indian country is fairly well-known. Less well-known is the impact made by noncasino enterprises—retail, housing, farming/ranching, tourism, Internet services, among many. When bundled with that gaming money, Native ventures have a hefty impact on state and local communities throughout the U.S.

Economic Development: Tribal Golf in Washington State on the Upswing - Across the country some of the most positive stories in golf involve the investment of Native American dollars in the industry. Nowhere is that more intense - and perhaps appreciated - than in the far-flung reaches of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. For the tribes, golf courses obviously offer an amenity for their nearby casinos. But they also mean, in some cases, the recouping of past reservation property as well as presenting a good community image as they host banquets and do weddings at their courses along with golf tournaments.

Economic Development: Tribes in Western Washington Are Bullish on the State’s Economy - Some local tribal governments are bullish on the state’s economy. Several major economic development projects have been completed or are under way, diversifying tribal economies, creating jobs and pumping dollars into the region.

Economic Development: How Tribes Can Support Economic Growth through Uniform Commercial Codes - Throughout recent years, many tribal nations have managed to build strong tribal economies by way of gaming and other business enterprises. They have created opportunities to support business partnerships and small business development. Despite these successes, the question still arises: “Are tribes prepared to facilitate business transactions across tribal borders or to attract outside investors to fund important business projects?” One way to address this is for tribes to develop a consistent and standardized set of laws that help to govern business transaction across jurisdictions.

Economic Development: Considerations for successful tribal economic development - In the past 15+ years, Northern California Tribes have emerged as significant political powers and economic contributors to the region. Several, including the Smith River Rancheria, Hoopa Valley Tribe, Karuk Tribe, and Yurok Tribe are self-governance Tribes. They provide direct services to their citizens and are integrally involved in regional, state, and national decision-making bodies concerned with regulation and use of public lands, transportation, infrastructure, police services, healthcare, education, and/or natural resources.

Economic Development: Book review on reservation capitalism and economic development in Indian Country - Professor Miller’s book is practical, realistic and timely. It subtly underscores the fact that tribal economic successes to date have occurred when tribes were in control and presents that as the basis for the next chapter economic development in Indian Country. This is recommended reading for tribal leaders, planners, Indian and non-Indian entrepreneurs and anyone interested in seeing a glimpse of the economic potential the lies in Indian Country.

Economic Development: Tribe to make its own wine at the late Fess Parker's vineyard - There are some who believe that while it is perfect fine for tribes to operate casinos and sell alcohol there, because alcohol is so problematic for natives, tribes should not actually produce alcoholic beverages. But it is a legitimate business.

Economic Development: Business Leaders Meeting With Tribal Leaders - The free conference is from 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, April 24, at the Satsop Business Park in the building located at 100 Technology Way. Check-in and a complimentary continental breakfast will be from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. The Native PTAC (Procurement and Technical Assistance Center) is presenting the conference. Other conference sponsors include The Chehalis Tribe, the Regional Education and Training Center at Satsop, Grays Harbor College and Satsop Business Park. In addition to the conference sponsors, others signed up to attend include representatives from the Quinault Indian Nation, several Alaska-based Native Corporations, the U.S. Navy, Starbucks, area building contractors, the Defense Contract Management Agency, the State Office of Minority and Women Enterprises and the State Department of Revenue’s liaison to tribal governments.

Economic Development: SEC/IRS Discrimination Class Action Lawsuit and Stolen Tribal Assets - The SEC has exhibited a benign neglect to the issue while the Internal Revenue Service has issued ITG FAQ #4: Tribes have constitutionally guaranteed status as sovereign entities and are not subject to tax based on this. However, Tribes that use their economic projects to pay for their government operations and to reduce poverty by seeking employment for their members has been subjected to an IRS ruling that their economic projects are to be deemed a Taxable issue and therefore require a higher interest rate than non-taxable issue.

Economic Development: Study quantifies contribution of tribal economies - A recent economic impact study released Jan. 18 by the Washington Indian Gaming Association provides specific details: Washington’s 29 federally recognized tribes — including the Tulalips, Sauk-Suiattle and Stillaguamish — employ more than 27,300 people in tribal governments; Pay more than $1.3 billion annually in employee wages and benefits; Buy more than $2.4 billion annual in goods and services from private companies; Generate more than $255 million annually in state and local taxes.

Economic Development: Native Proposes Reservation Business - From the halls and classrooms of urban academia, one Native American is touting a plan that could make it possible for people to stay on rural reservations and earn a fairly decent living, an opportunity that’s sometimes been elusive. Calvin C. Pohawpatchoko Jr., a member of the Comanche Nation, is a Ph.D. candidate in an interdisciplinary program in technology, media and society at the University of Colorado-Boulder. He supports insourcing call or data centers that can be based at a distance from their customers (compared to outsourcing to India, the Philippines, or other places).

Economic Development: Turks, Looking To Do Business with Native Americans, Say They're Related - As it looks for business opportunities in the U.S., Turkey has been wooing Indian tribes, including Colville and Makah.

Economic Development: Indian Tribal Trade and Investment Demonstration Project Act of 2011 - The country of Turkey is interested in investing in Indian Country. In November 2010, it hosted representatives from several tribes, including Coeur d'Alene and Colville.

Economic Development: The White House Blog: Empowering America’s Job Creators in Indian Country

Economic Development: Potlatch Fund Gala Receives Record Donations, Honors Northwest Native Leaders

Economic Development: Tribes aren't banking on just casinos anymore

Economic Development: Native American entrepreneurs build a network of success

Tribal Business Structure Handbook - free pdf