Core Components of Economic Plan Implementation - Part 2 (In-Person Training)

Advancing from Local to Regional and Global Strategies (and How to Fund It)

This 3-hour in-person training at the 2024 NAIHC Legal Symposium in Las Vegas underscores the foundational elements of economic development, including a qualified workforce/labor pool, an entrepreneurial ecosystem, and the primary infrastructure necessary to support economic activities (e.g., roads, telecommunications, water/sewer, available land, and locations or space suitable for different business types), and provides strategies for developing each of these specific elements. This training covered: 

• Workforce Development and Housing as Economic Development (incl. the role of tribal schools/colleges and partner universities/community colleges in economic development)   

• Building Entrepreneurial Ecosystems: Small Business Development, SBA programs, Native CDFls, and business incubators 

Subject Matter Experts

Session Worksheets:

Click to access Building an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Worksheet

Click to access Housing AS Economic Development Worksheet

Training Overview & Resources

Housing as Economic Development 

Why is housing so important? 

Stable housing has been linked to better educational outcomes for children, improved physical and mental health for adults, and stronger family cohesion. Moreover, when people live in safe and stable housing, they are more likely to engage in their community, participate in the workforce, and invest in their futures. 

Housing can be viewed as a critical piece of infrastructure that underpins many other areas of development—from health to education, and from social stability growth to economic growth. When communities invest in housing, they are investing in the long-term sustainability and resilience of their entire population. 

Click to view Housing as Economic Development slides

Along with PowerPoint slides, Cris Gastner discussed key topics in depth, including: 

• The Key Economic Impact of Housing: The economic impact of housing extends far beyond the construction of homes. Housing projects create immediate economic activity through the demand for labor, materials, and equipment. 

• Challenges and Opportunities for Native Communities: Barriers present unique challenges but also offer an opportunity to think creatively about how tribes can overcome these obstacles and develop housing solutions that are tailored to their specific needs and circumstances. 

• Leveraging Native Sovereignty: One of the most powerful tools available to tribal communities is tribal sovereignty. 

• SWOT Exercise: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats 

• [Click to access SWOT exercise sheet] 

• Example of Indigenous Housing & Economic Development: Ho-Chunk Construction, Inc. & Dynamic Homes: Key Drivers of Economic Development for the Winnebago Tribe. The Winnebago Tribe has worked diligently to develop a diverse and self-sustaining economy. Both tribally owned enterprises play vital roles in advancing the Winnebago Tribe's economic goals by focusing on affordable housing, job creation, workforce development, and sustainability. 

• Example of Indigenous Housing & Economic Development: Tahoma Construction Servicesis a tribally owned company under the Puyallup Tribe of Washington State, focusing on both residential and commercial construction. The company plays a pivotal role in the tribe’s long-term economic development and workforce training efforts. By providing housing and infrastructure projects, it helps address housing needs for the Puyallup Tribe’s growing population while contributing to the tribe’s overall economic prosperity. 

• The Role of NAHASDA: The Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA) plays a crucial role in funding housing development in tribal communities. 

Housing as a Tool for Workforce Development 

Click to view Housing for Workforce Development slides

In the PowerPoint slides Cris Gastner goes into depth of key topics, including: 

• Stable Housing and Job Retention: When people have stable, affordable housing, they are more likely to stay employed long-term. 

• Access to Transportation, Childcare, and Healthcare: The proximity of housing to key services such as transportation, childcare, and healthcare plays a critical role in ensuring workforce participation. 

• Challenges for Workforce Development in Native Communities & Integrated Housing & Workforce Development Strategies: An effective strategy for addressing these challenges is to integrate housing with workforce development. 

• Example of Indigenous Housing & Workforce Development: Cook Inlet Housing Authority; The Cook Inlet Housing Job Training Program is a community-driven initiative designed to support Alaska Native communities by providing valuable job training in the construction and housing sectors. 

• Using Federal Early Childhood Funds to Improve Housing for Tribal Workforces: In tribal communities, addressing housing challenges is critical not just for family stability but also for strengthening the local workforce, especially in the early childhood education sector. 

Creating an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem 

Entrepreneurship is a catalyst for economic independence, and in many communities, it serves as a path to self-sufficiency, lifting families out of poverty and empowering individuals to shape their own economic futures.  

Housing plays an integral role in fostering these ecosystems. By providing affordable live/work spaces, housing projects can create the physical infrastructure necessary for small businesses to grow. 

the PowerPoint slides Cris Gastner goes into depth of key topics, including: 

Click to view Creating an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Slides

• Barriers & Strategies to Entrepreneurial Development in Native Communities: The creation of a successful entrepreneurial ecosystem in tribal and Native communities requires collaboration, resource-sharing, and a focus on leveraging both cultural strengths and economic opportunities. 

• Process of Building an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in tribal and Native Communities: Creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem in tribal and Native communities requires a culturally aware and community-centered approach, recognizing the unique challenges and strengths of these communities. 

  • Discussion Exercise: Some questions from the Companion Guide for the NCAI Animated Video Series:  

    • Why Native Small Businesses Matter and How to Grow Them  

    • Does your Tribal Nation formally prioritize purchasing goods and services from your own people, and if so, is that policy working?  

    • What are your people’s attitudes towards entrepreneurship? Do they align with your nation’s traditional economic values?  

    • To your knowledge, how many Native-owned small businesses currently exist in your community? 

    • What existing partnerships within and outside of your community can your nation leverage to create a robust ecosystem for Native-owned small business development? 

• Example of Creating an Indigenous Entreprenurial Ecosystem: Entrepreneurial Training and Technical Assistance: Sister Sky Empowerment Workshops is a pioneering initiative designed to provide entrepreneurial training for Indigenous entrepreneurs, utilizing the resources and support of the Small Business Administration (SBA). The workshops focus on helping participants learn essential business skills like financial management, marketing strategies, and business planning while navigating the complex world of small business financing.  

• Example of Creating an Indigenous Entreprenurial Ecosystem: Native American Business Incubator: Change Labs is an innovative Native business incubator dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship and economic self-sufficiency in Native communities across the U.S. Their mission is to provide Native entrepreneurs with the tools, support, and community necessary to create and sustain businesses that align with cultural values and contribute to community development. 

• Example of Creating an Indigenous Entreprenurial Ecosystem: Tribally Owned Business Park: Coyote Business Park is located in Wilsonville, Oregon, just outside Portland, Coyote Business Park is a mixed-use development designed to attract and nurture businesses across multiple industries. The park is centered around sustainable business practices, innovation, and creating an environment conducive to growth and collaboration. 

Closing Thoughts 

When communities invest in housing, they are not only meeting a basic human need; they are investing in economic development. Housing projects stimulate local economies by generating jobs in construction and related industries. 

In turn, this creates opportunities for local businesses to thrive, from building materials suppliers to service providers. Affordable housing is often the cornerstone of long-term economic stability—when families have access to secure homes, they are more likely to stay, raise families, and retain employment. 

There are resources available, including the above subject matter experts (SME), who can help tribes and their programs get involved in large scale projects. 

Questions, with answers from the Resource Group and fellow participants, will continue to be posted in the Knowledge Bank on the CoP website. If you have questions that you want answered, please ask in the LinkedIn group or share it with the administrators. 

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