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09-03-10 - Indian Country Today
Renewable energy and green business were summit focus
By Michael Meuers, Special to Today
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08-25-10 - Indian Country
Northern Tribes Unite for Economic Development
By Michael Meuers
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08-17-10 - Indian Country Today
Groundbreaking held for new Red Lake convenience store
By Michael Meuers, Special to Today
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08-12-10 - Lakeland Public Television
Tribal Summit
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08-11-10 - MPR NewsQ
Building the Indian Country Economy, one business at a time
By Tom Robertson, Minnesota Public Radio
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The Commission coordinates planning of the economic development summits hosted by the three tribes. Following the first ever Economic Summit held at White Earth in 2006 which led to the creation of the Commission, a second summit was held at Leech Lake in 2008, and a third summit will be held at Red Lake on August 11-12.

At the 2006 Summit, a presentation was provided by the NW Service Cooperative regarding their statewide joint purchasing program. The Cooperative allowed the three tribes to become a member under one membership fee of $250 per year or $83.33 per tribe. Thus far, White Earth has utilized their membership to purchase twelve (12) new vehicles at a total cost savings of approximately $73,000. Red Lake purchased four new vehicles at a savings of over $45,000. The Cooperative provided a presentation to purchasing staff and commission members in June 2010 on other products and services available to its members.

Commission members exchange information on businesses owned & operated by their tribes and tribal members. As a result, Leech Lake’s Che We Office Supply was awarded a $200,000 contract to provide office furniture at the new Red Lake Casino. White Earth obtained the construction bid on materials for the Red Lake Casino.

At the 2008 Summit, tribal leaders from each of the three reservations identified high propane costs and related fees as a major concern. The Commission formed a propane sub-committee to research and review combined propane consumption numbers, cost, distributors common to the three reservations, and fees associated with set-up and delivery. The sub-committee visited propane companies owned by tribes and invited a company that assists with developing propane businesses to do a presentation. As a result, Red Lake established Red Lake Nation Energy. Red Lake Nation Energy provides propane and other energy products to the Red Lake Nation members and others throughout the north country at a competitive price while making a profit for the Community. The sub-committee is obtaining consumption numbers from Leech Lake & White Earth with plans to purchase propane under one bid contract.

The Commission worked cooperatively with the Headwaters Regional Development Commission (HRDC) on a grant to the three Initiative Foundations serving the three tribes – Initiative Foundation, Little Falls; West Central Initiative, Fergus Falls; and NW Minnesota Foundation, Bemidji. With matching dollars the Commission leveraged $5,000 from each Foundation and $9,500 from the HRDC. The $39,500 will be used to contract with the HRDC to assist the Commission in developing a 5 year strategic plan identifying potential collaborative economic development opportunities that will benefit each of the Reservations and the region.

The Commission’s Telecommunications Sub-committee comprised of representatives from the three reservations jointly developed and submitted a grant proposal under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Acts initiative to expand broadband access nationwide. In July 2010, it was announced that the grant was approved for $1.7 million. The project titled “Headwaters Tribal Computer Centers” will create seven new public computer centers and expand or upgrade ten existing facilities on the three reservations. The centers will be located at Boys and Girls Clubs within tribally operated community centers, providing public access to all residents. The Clubs will implement a variety of training opportunities for tribal members of all ages, including computer and technology instruction and small business counseling for adults. The project plans to make a total of 224 work stations available and serve an estimated 5,400 people weekly. Not only will this project create jobs upfront, but it will help drive economic development in tribal communities that will create jobs for years to come.