Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Economic Development Office recently sponsored their annual Akwesasne Business Meeting on November 6, 2012 at the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino training room. The meeting was open to all Akwesasne business owners and those thinking of starting their own business. The meeting had a number of speakers all ready to offer their expertise in starting and running a successful business. The day started with Steve Cook of the SRMT Economic Development office and Michelle Collins of SUNY Canton Small Business Development Center giving words of welcome. Chief Randy Hart spoke after reading from a prepared statement giving words of welcome to all who attended.

First on the agenda was an update of issues raised at last year’s business meeting, Akwesasne has 300 to 350 businesses, not all operational. The Tribe employs nearly 1300 employees and Akwesasne has nearly 1.9 million cars passing through our territory in one year. Akwesasne has a strong base for most businesses but run into challenges with funding resources, title insurance, training of employees and becoming financially literate. Included in last year’s issues were ways agencies such as the BIA, SBA and USDA can work together with local business owners to make support more accessible and viable within The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe.

Next on the agenda were presenters on the Business Planning and Funding Panel. Karen MacDonnell of the USDA Rural Development office is the largest supporter of the SRMT small business loan, providing the Tribe with much needed funds for loans out to local Akwesasne Business owners. The largest loan from the Tribe’s Economic Development office was $20,000 and the smallest loan was $10,000. The USDA also helps fund the Diabetes Center, the Broadband imitative, and an overall $100,000 to the Tribe and various initiatives, and they are looking into building a much-needed field house. Virginia Smith of the US Small Business Administration can help guarantee a business loan from a bank and offer business counseling micro loans from $500. to $50,000. Steve Cook spoke of his work with local artists and artisans about building and tapping into the international market that’s hungry for original and handmade work from local artists. William Papineau of the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne Economic Office explained how their business loan program works and how they have supported over 900 businesses in Akwesasne. They recently renewed their program by securing 3.2 million dollars for local businesses in Akwesasne. The Tribe’s own Steve Cook spoke of the revolving loan program to start or expand a business and how the process is around 5 to 6 weeks in comparison to MCA’s year long process.

Part of this day was dedicated to Government Contracting Opportunities with Virginia Smith of US Small Business administration, Katrina Kapustay of Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) and Michelle Collins of NYSSBDC BidLinx. If you have a business that is interested in obtaining government contracts this is the window to open. Each offered ways to get your foot in the door of government contracting and how the process and procedure can be supported by their offices, especially businesses that are identified within the HUB zone – historically underutilized businesses – a minority owned business, especially one owned by a female.

Next on the agenda was Roseanne Murphy of Empire State Development, who helped define how the State and the Tribe can work together to obtain a large business loan on Tribal land. The Tribe would own the land while the person would own the business, if the loan defaults the land and the business title would remain with the Tribe.

Jerry Loch from Green Jobs, Green New York Outreach Coordinator.

Last but very important was Jerry Loch, the Green New York Outreach Coordinator of Green Jobs, and Scott Collins the USDA Rural Development Energy Program Coordinator, who not only gave a very interesting presentation but gave each participant energy saving light bulbs and insulating outlet covers. Mr. Loch can give your business an energy audit to see how much energy you use, review usage patterns, make recommendations, and provide cash flow analysis and lower operating costs. They can also give small loans, which would go directly on your energy bill to cover minor improvements in heating and lighting for your business. This audit is provided free of charge. We need to become energy literate to use energy and not let energy use us.

Mr. Cook looks forward to next year’s Annual Business Meeting, which will be held in the new addition of the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino. To contact any of these speakers and presenters please contact Steve Cook or Kasey Thomas at the Economic Development Office at 518-358-2273.