Senator Baucus Announces Tribal Economic Development Workshop in Billings, Montana

Senator, U.S. Commerce Secretary Announce Regional Workshop Ahead of Tonight’s APEC Tribal Roundtable

Montana’s senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus announced today the U.S. Department of Commerce is cooperating with several other federal agencies to host a regional tribal economic development workshop in Billings this August. Baucus made the announcement today as he arrived in Big Sky for the 2011 APEC summit, where he is hosting a tribal development roundtable this evening with U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and representatives from Montana’s Indian reservations. Following tonight’s roundtable, Baucus will give a keynote address at the official APEC welcome reception, where he invited members of the Apsaalooke (Crow) Our Way of Life Traditional Dancers & Drum Group to deliver a presentation to the room filled with nearly 600 guests and cabinet-level officials from all over the world.

"I couldn’t be prouder of the way all Montanans are embracing the opportunity of APEC to show the world what we can do and really deliver for our economy. Tonight’s roundtable with Tribal Leaders and Secretary Locke will give us a chance to showcase some of the exciting things that are happening in Montana’s reservation communities and focus on what more we can do to bring good jobs to Indian country," Baucus said. "The workshop later this year in Billings will give Montana reservation communities a chance to really build on the work we do at tonight’s roundtable and boost efforts to support good jobs for all Montanans."

"We want to do everything we can to help Native American communities prosper and create jobs," said Secretary Locke. "From the Commerce Department’s Minority Business Development Agency to its Economic Development Administration and International Trade Administration, we are working hand-in-hand with Native American businesses to help them grow and create more jobs for their members."

The August workshop will include native American communities from across the plains region to accomplish three goals:

1. Identify existing challenges to economic development in Indian Country;

2. Identify best practices and solutions that address these challenges; and

3. Discuss and learn about federal and regional Native economic development initiatives and programs to aid tribal governments and tribal and independent businesses.

Additional Background:

In 2010, the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund partnered with the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Seattle Branch, Small Business Administration office of Indian Affairs, Department of Interior Indian office of Energy and Economic Development, Department of Commerce, and United States Department of Agricultural office of Rural Development to conduct five regional workshops promoting economic development in Native communities across the country. The goal of these workshops was to provide participants with the opportunity to learn about resources available for Native economic development initiatives from the federal government and regional programs. The workshops were held in: Oklahoma City, OK, Albuquerque, NM, Sacramento, CA, Seattle, WA, and Anchorage, AK. This year, one of those conference will be held in Billings, MT.

The following agencies are scheduled to participate in the Billings workshop at this time:

· Department of Treasury, CDFI Fund/Native Affairs

· Department of Commerce, Office of the Secretary and EDA

· Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Reserve Banks of Boston, San Francisco, Chicago and Minneapolis

· Small Business Administration, Office of Native American Affairs

· Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Native Americans

· Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Energy and Economic Development

· U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development

· Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC)

· Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

· Department of Housing, Office of Native American Programs