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 […]
Homeownership: A Path to Freedom and Stability
After nearly a five year journey, January Mathis, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, will soon be moving into a home she can call her own. January’s home is currently one of seven under construction in Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation’s regenerative community just outside of Porcupine, South Dakota, […]
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 […]
Derek Weston Receives All Star Honor for Business Success
Derek Weston, owner of Six Stars Pest Control Services, has been recognized by Lakota Funds as an “All Star” for his participation in multiple programs designed to build assets for Lakota individuals and families. The All Star program was designed by Lakota Funds to encourage their clients to participate in […]
Twenty High School Students Compete for Top Prize of $1,000 in Statewide Business Plan Competition
Darien Young Man, a senior at Red Cloud High School, was the top winner among a group of twenty high school students that participated in the statewide business plan competition during the Lakota Nation Invitational (LNI) that took place in mid-December at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. Young Man received […]
Creative Financing Plants Seeds for Community Revitalization
The small town of Whiteclay, Nebraska lies just outside of the boundaries of the Pine Ridge Reservation in southwestern South Dakota. It is infamous for its liquor stores and some of the highest rates of alcohol sales per capita in the nation. With a population of 14 and average sales […]
Rosalie’s Quilting Expands, Persistence Pays Off
Rosalie’s Quilting, located 15 miles east of Wanblee on Highway 44 on Corn Creek, has expanded their operations from a home-based business into a newly constructed shop. The shop, built by Mendoza Construction and financed by Lakota Funds, will house all of the business’s equipment and will feature a new […]
Darrell Hunter Receives All Star Honor for Building Business
Over twenty years ago Darrell Hunter was one of three students in the first-ever woodshop class at Little Wound High School in Kyle, South Dakota, on the Pine Ridge Reservation. His teacher, who Darrell indicates was also a supportive mentor, created the class so he could develop his talents and […]
New Lending Program Creates Greater Access to Capital for Indian Agricultural Entrepreneurs
Lakota Funds, a community loan fund, was approved as a lender for Farm Service Agency (FSA) guaranteed loans. As a result, Lakota Funds will now be able to provide up to $300,000 in capital for eligible Indian-owned agricultural businesses located on the Pine Ridge Reservation or within 50 miles from […]
Expanded Opportunity for Native American Entrepreneurs
Lakota Funds has expanded their service area to increase opportunities for more Native American entrepreneurs to access capital that will support business ventures located within a 50-mile radius of the exterior boundaries of the Pine Ridge Reservation. Previously, their service area covered a 25-mile radius beyond the boundaries of the […]