Native American Green Entrepreneur Fund

If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. ~ African proverb

Starting a business in rural areas presents a set of challenges that can be discouraging at times. Lack of infrastructure (such as high speed internet), spotty cell phone coverage, and long travel times to banks and clients are all part of the picture that might seem bleak to some. But for those whose livelihoods are tied to land and community, starting a business and building the local economy are not a question of why, but how. Going it alone isn’t really an option, so forming partnerships is key.

The first few months of 2015 have been spent reflecting, discussing, and planning Trees, Water & People’s (TWP) major development activities for the year. Last month we officially opened registration for our green job skills workshops in compressed earth block (CEB) construction and our signature Green Business Development in Indian Country Training at the Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center (RCREC). We have also scheduled solar furnace and CEB workshops with tribes in the Great Plains area. And this year we add a new skills training –“More Than Food: An Indigenous Food Sovereignty Workshop,” - featuring our demonstration garden, The Solar Warrior Farm.

Native people from all over the country are registering to attend these workshops, and scholarships and travel stipends make a big difference in determining who is able to be there. The workshops, especially Green Business Development, are excellent opportunities to connect with others who are starting out, and to talk with seasoned entrepreneurs, who can share their best practices. Each workshop leads to collaborations and stronger projects for the communities.

Through your continued support, more people can have the opportunity to be a part of the circle of success, and go far together. Thank you for a successful 2014 and a strong start in 2015!

Links:

• Tribal Program website