Jump to main content.

THIS IS AN ARCHIVED SITE

This site contains information that has been considered archived and will no longer be updated. Please click here to go to the CURRENT eda.gov website.

A bureau within the U.S. Department of Commerce
Newsroom

Newsroom

Press Release

U.S. EDA Invests to Support Native Americans and Create Jobs in Window Rock, Arizona and Campo, California

March 29, 2011
Contact: John Atwood, (202) 482-4085


WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA) today announced a $650,000 in grants to support business development and job creation in the Navajo Nation of Window Rock, Ariz., and the Campo Band of Mission Indians of Campo, Calif.

"Native Americans have been among the hardest hit by these tough economic times," said U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development John R. Fernandez. "These EDA grants will help alleviate hardships such as the closing of Reservation coal mines and create living-wage job opportunities to serve the local community."

These grants include:

  • $450,000 to the Navajo Nation of Window Rock, Ariz., to help design a 30,000 square foot Ganado Shopping Center. The Shopping Center will be home to a supermarket and several retail shops, advancing local business development and job creation.

Tony Perry, The Navajo Nation's Director of Project Development for Economic Development, said "The EDA grant to design the Ganado Shopping Center is the critical plan needed to provide jobs and basic services in this under-served community. Future development allows The Nation to capture sales leakage to nearby border towns and offer opportunities to entrepreneurs in creating long-term economic stability."

  • $200,000 to the Campo Band of Mission Indians of Campo, Calif., to fund a local economic development strategy and development plan for an existing renewable energy zone on the Campo Reservation. As part of the project, the applicant will procure a Tribal Energy Resource Agreement (TERA) with the U.S. Department of the Interior.

"The wind project and the CREZ (Campo Renewable Energy Zone) will attract new commercial activities related to renewable energy development and operations and spur economic growth on the Reservation," said Monique La Chappa, Tribal Chairwoman, Campo Band of Mission Indians.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration:

The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.