The 2023 National Association of Development Organizations economic summit in Denver, Colo., featured workshops that included a focus on Indigenous communities.
Presentations in the three-day summit in April were made by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Castillo and more, according to a May 18 U.S. Economic Development Administration news release.
“The conference was a good networking opportunity to learn and share best practices with other Tribes,” David Tam, CEO at Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, said in the release. “Knowing that EDA is committed to supporting Tribal communities is important as we face special challenges on many different levels. It gives me hope to see how willing people are to help one another from the perspective of economic development.”
The summit began by introducing the newly established Indigenous Communities Community of Practice, operated by the Urban Institute in collaboration with the National American Indian Housing Council and Big Water Consulting, the release reported.
Supported by the EDA, this Community of Practice offers training and technical assistance to enhance project planning and implementation capabilities, according to the release. It aims to facilitate Tribal access to EDA’s funding programs for economic development. Notably, this is one of eight nationwide Communities of Practice funded by the EDA.
Participants were also provided with "models and strategies for building sustainable Tribal-owned businesses, emphasizing the importance of reliable and accurate data when applying for federal funding," the release said.
“The workshop drove home how important it is for Tribes to maintain their sovereignty by means of ownership of their data and holding on to an economic development vision that meets the unique needs of our communities,” Bernadette Cuthair, planning director for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe said, in the release. “There was a wealth of practical information, including the unique aspect of one-on-one networking with cities, counties, agencies, native-owned businesses and western-region Tribes to learn of real-time, unique economic development models.”
