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Alaska Native artists, biz owners optimistic after federal law saves 2021 cruise season

14 June 2021 Tamara Ikenberg
Last summer, the normally swarming ports of Southeast Alaska were stripped of the cruise ships that are an essential part of the state’s economic ecosystem.

Tribal Business News Briefs: June 14, 2021

14 Jun Economic Development
Here is a round up of business news briefs from around Indian Country.

Alaska Native-owned ASRC Federal subsidiary awarded $217M defense contract

May 20 Federal 8(a) Contracting
BELTSVILLE, Md. — Alaska Native-owned federal contractor ASRC Communications Ltd. will help the Department of Defense improve its cybersecurity operations as part of a new five-year contract.

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians to acquire Las Vegas casino for $650 million

May 05 Gaming
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has continued its investment in Las Vegas with a deal to acquire the Palms Casino Resort.

After 4-year search, Change Labs finds a new home to expand business incubator on Navajo Nation

June 14 Entrepreneurism
TUBA CITY, Ariz. — Native American business incubator Change Labs has reached a new milestone in securing land for its headquarters following four years of searching.

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Zach Ducheneaux

ZACH DUCHENEAUX: Farm Service Agency head spotlights USDA Native debt relief, equity focus

Food/Agriculture
On May 27, the day that Chickasaw Nation citizen Janie Simms Hipp had a speedy confirmation hearing in front of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee as her nomination to become General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Agriculture proceeded, the agency’s new Farm Service Agency Administrator Zach Ducheneaux was looking forward to equitable days to come.
solar field

Moapa Band of Paiute Indians moves forward with Southern Bighorn Solar Project

Energy
CLARK COUNTY, Nev. — A proposal to add two new facilities to the Moapa Band of Paiute Indians’ growing portfolio of solar energy projects has come one step closer to approval.
Oweesta Executive Director Chrystel Cornelius

After recent spinoff, Oweesta Corp. sets 10-year target for $100M investment in Indian Country

Finance
LONGMONT, Colo. — Last summer, Oweesta Corp ., the longest standing Native funder of Native-run community development financial institutions in the nation, split from First Nations Development Institute , its parent company for 20 years.
indigenous roots

Pair of Indigenous groups receive $500K America’s Cultural Treasures grants

Arts and Culture
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — The Minnesota arts scene led by people of color just got a $12.6 million investment boon.

Diabetes pilot program focuses on traditional foods to help Mashantucket Pequot improve health outcomes, reduce spending

Health Care
MASHANTUCKET, Conn. — The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation has started a new partnership aimed at helping to reverse type 2 diabetes in its people, while simultaneously saving the tribe’s health care system and patients thousands of dollars.
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American Indian College Fund launches $1.1M effort to improve outcomes in health care, education for Native students

Higher Education
DENVER — Backed by a new grant of more than $1.1 million, the American Indian College Fund plans a pair of new programs at tribal colleges and universities in North Dakota and Montana.
Nisqually Tribe

Nisqually Tribe land purchase balances protecting fish habitat with sustainable logging

Real Estate
OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Nisqually Indian Tribe joined with the Nisqually Land Trust to purchase more than 2,200 acres of land in western Washington State, doubling the size of an adjoining community forest.
art

With new $75M cultural center, Choctaw Nation blends tribal services with cultural tourism

Tourism
DURANT, Okla. — An Oklahoma tribe will open the doors on a $75 million cultural center in late July after nearly three years of construction.
Picayune Chukchansi

COMEBACK WATCH: Picayune Chukchansi tribe erases mountain of debt, shares leadership lessons

Sovereignty
OAKHURST, Calif. — Long before the pandemic — for much of the past decade, in fact — the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians in California has been in serious financial trouble.