While thousands of homes are needed to fully meet the housing needs of Pine Ridge Reservation residents, Tess Puckett’s new business, Lakota Cabins, will be in high demand. Lakota Cabins sells custom-built, prefabricated, energy-efficient homes at a reasonable price point. Puckett hopes her new business will help the community by […]
Oglala Lakota Artspace to Break Ground in September
The kind of place everyone dreams of. That is how artist and First Peoples Fund staff member Bryan Parker (White Mountain Apache, Muscogee Creek, Mississippi Choctaw) describes the Oglala Lakota Artspace, a first of its kind space slated to break ground this fall on the Pine Ridge Reservation. A collaboration […]
Free Tax Service Brings Over $1 Million to Reservation, Receives Award from IRS
With tax season wrapping up, Lakota Funds and the Lakota Federal Credit Union are celebrating the success of their Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site where they offer free tax preparation services to residents of the Pine Ridge Reservation and neighboring areas. By the end of tax season, they filed […]
Lakota Funds Recognized as Leader in Food Sovereignty
The Nonprofit Quarterly’s article, “In Indian Country, Native CDFIs Work to Restore Food Sovereignty,” features our agricultural lending program and explains how it not only helps entrepreneurs grow their businesses, but it also addresses immediate needs for food access within our community. It also explains the importance of increasing the […]
Nonprofit Supports Increase in Native-Owned Agri-Businesses
Although the latest USDA Census of Agriculture shows there are 3,218 agricultural operations on Indian reservations in South Dakota, only 924 – less than a third – are actually Native American-owned. Lakota Funds, a nonprofit organization, is working to increase that number by supporting Native American farmers and ranchers through […]
Bair Automotive Reopens as Ownership Changes Hands
A mainstay of Martin, South Dakota’s, local business sector, Bair’s Automotive Store, is scheduled to reopen on Monday, March 19, 2018 after a temporary closure for remodel work to be complete. After 50-plus years, ownership of the business has officially transferred to Scott Bair from his father, Richard Bair. Richard […]
Lakota Funds Participates in Listening Session with Minneapolis Fed President
During his trip to Pierre, South Dakota, Minneapolis Federal Reserve President, Neel Kashkari, hosted a lunch listening session with about 15 tribal leaders from around the state. Among them were Lakota Funds Executive Director, Tawney Brunsch, and Board Chairperson, Elsie Meeks. The participants shared their accomplishments in the areas of […]
Statewide Youth Business Plan Competition Celebrates 10th Year with Most Entries Ever
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 […]
Family Celebrates Homeownership this Holiday Season
This holiday season, Cynthia Plenty Bull and her daughter will be celebrating in the same house they have lived in for the past six years. But this year, they will call the home their own. Cynthia is the first tenant in the 30-unit Eagle Nest Housing Development, originally built in […]