State awards local Native businesses grants

Havre Daily News staff

Gov. Steve Bullock and Montana Department of Commerce Director Meg O’Leary announced recipients of $320,000 in grants including several local businesses under the Indian Equity Fund Small Business Grant Program.

“Montana leads the nation in developing economic equity and genuine solutions in Indian Country through state support of Native American-owned businesses,” Bullock said in a press release. “These businesses are a reflection of the qualities that make Montana great and honor our oldest traditions of commerce, trade and prosperity.”

“Diversifying the economy on reservations and in our Native communities is critical to our long-term strategy to foster economic resiliency, opportunity and locally grown jobs in Indian Country,” O’Leary said in the release. “By supporting small businesses with these grants and associated technical assistance programs, we’re seeding successful businesses where every job and revenue multiplier is critical. We’re excited to have such a significant response to the program. It means we’re putting resources where they’re needed most.”

Among the 27 Native businesses receiving grants were:

Chippewa Cree Tribe

• Nate Chandler, owner of Nate’s Gonna Fix It, received $14,000 to purchase new exhaust and metal fabrication equipment for his auto repair business in Havre;

• Steve and Jennifer Parker, owners of Parker’s BBQ Pit, received $14,000 to complete setup of their mobile food trailer with improved kitchen equipment and installation of plumbing and electrical systems;

Fork Belknap Indian Community

• Tammy and Greg Rider, owners of Yellow Bear Enterprises, received $11,000 to purchase portable toilets to offer at events on and near Fort Belknap Indian Reservation;

• Shanna Stack, owner of Stack Speech Therapy Group LLC, received $14,000 to purchase specialized Fiber-optic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing equipment, training and accessories for her and her staff located in Missoula.

The release said 85 Native American businesses applied for grants this year.

The IEF began in 2007 and has awarded more than $1 million to 185 business owners since its inception. The IEF Small Business Grant is a state-funded program administered by the DOC. Funding is utilized from the Indian Country Economic Development program via the recommendation of the State Tribal Economic Development Commission and the approval of the DOC director.

For more information about the Indian Equity Fund Small Business Grant, people can contact Philip Belangie, Indian Entrepreneur Development Program manager, at 406-721-3663, or visit indiancoutry.mt.gov.