This year the statewide business plan competition, a part of the annual Lakota Nation Invitational (LNI) that takes place every December, celebrated its 10th year with 33 competitors – nearly double last year and more than any other previous year. The participating students represented White River, Red Cloud, Little Wound, […]
Native American Business Programs Showcased on SDPB
South Dakota Focus took a closer look a the success stories of Native American Business owners. Watch this segment to hear from owners to loan officers and how they are creating economic development and thriving. Guests include: Cecily Engelhart from Thunder Valley CDC, Cheryl Bartlett of Harvest Winds LLC, Tony […]
US Treasury’s CDFI Fund Visits Pine Ridge Reservation
We were honored to host two important guests from the US Treasury’s CDFI Fund, Director Annie Donovan and Senior Portfolio Manager Clint Hastings. It was a great opportunity to showcase our work and highlight our local entrepreneurs. Read Clint’s reflections in his blog post.
Financial Institutions of the Future
Indian Country Today’s article, “Are Native CDFIs the Financial Institutions of the Future?” discusses access to financial products and services in reservation communities. It highlights our work and the great need for capital among Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs). We encourage everyone to read this article to learn more […]
Lakota Funds Deploys 1st Agricultural Loan
James Two Crow (Oglala Sioux), a loyal Lakota Funds client since 2002, was the first to tap into our new Farm Service Agency guaranteed loan program. He utilized this agricultural loan product to purchase 20 bred cows, which symbolize the start of his growing cattle operation just east of Kyle […]
Tribal Member Takes Ownership of Pizza Shoppe, Works to Create Jobs
By any standards, Warren Peterson (Lower Brule Sioux) would be considered an ambitious social entrepreneur. At the age of 24, Peterson – already a husband and father – has worked his way out of special education classes, started his college education to become a doctor, and most recently purchased the […]
Rapidly Growing Food Truck Industry Reaches Pine Ridge Reservation
As the general economy headed for a downturn in 2008, the food truck industry began a remarkable rise. As of 2015, annual food truck revenue hit $1.2 billion with a 12.4% increase over five years. With markets near saturation in large metropolitan areas like Denver and Silicon Valley, the Pine […]
Financial Institutions Partner to Increase Financial Capability and Assets
Lakota Funds and the Lakota Federal Credit Union announced the second year of the Increased Customer Access Partnership Program, which is designed to promote cross marketing between the two organizations in order to expand access to programs and services that support increased financial capability and asset building for individuals and […]
Participants in Statewide Youth Business Plan Competition Visited by Celebrity
Jim Warne, a former NFL player, actor, award-winning filmmaker, and Oglala Sioux tribal member, delivered a motivational speech to the participants in the statewide business plan competition during the Lakota Nation Invitational (LNI) that took place mid-December at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. The newly-elected Oglala Sioux Tribe President, Scott […]
Business Ownership Brings Family Back to Hometown of Oelrichs
Randy and Jessica Hamar recently became the new owners of The Office, a bar, restaurant, and the cornerstone of Oelrichs, South Dakota for over 20 years. Originally from Oelrichs, Jessica Hamar (previously Dryden) is glad to be back to her hometown after living in Chadron, Nebraska for 15 years. “We […]