EDA PARTNERS WITH TRIBAL NATIONS IN WISCONSIN TO CONNECT COMMUNITIES WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES
In 2018, EDA’s Lee Shirey helped organize the Wisconsin Tribal Technical Tour, which brought federal, state, and local economic development leaders to Wisconsin’s 11 federally recognized tribal communities. The goal was to connect tribes with resources that address tribal economic and community development needs.
As a result, more than $5 million in EDA grants were awarded to Wisconsin Tribal Nations. The connections to the other agencies also brought additional resources, technical assistance, grant money, and loan capital to further support and advance Wisconsin tribal development projects statewide.
“These tours spark conversations and help tribal stakeholders develop a better understanding of how local, regional, state, and federal resources can be leveraged to assist with economic diversification of Wisconsin’s tribal communities,” said Shirey, who was EDA’s Economic Development Representative (EDR) for Wisconsin for six years.
Tom Baron has taken over as EDR for Wisconsin and is working with Shirey, who now serves as EDR for Michigan, to continue the tours, albeit virtually due to the pandemic.
The first virtual “tour” – renamed “A Tribal Enterprise & Economic Development Resources Toolbox Virtual Discussion” -- was held Nov. 4, 2020, and featured the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin, which has three districts within Wisconsin and a fourth district being anything outside of Wisconsin.
Representatives from agencies such as the Small Business Administration, Wisconsin Procurement Institute, and Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, among others, participated. Discussion topics included planning and development, infrastructure, broadband access, and housing.
The second virtual “tour” is scheduled for March 18, 2021, with the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Their reservation is located on the northern shoreline of the Bayfield Peninsula in northwest Wisconsin.
“These discussions are outstanding because, by design, they are directly engaging and aligning available development resources with prioritized tribal development projects. The Tribal Development Resources Toolbox discussions are building bridges,” said Gary Mejchar, Development Director of the First American Capital Corporation (FACC), a Native Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and SBA microlender created by the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin.
Mejchar has worked for more than 25 years with Wisconsin’s Native communities and has played a major role in helping coordinate the tours.