[CircleUp] FW: News From Oweesta

Tue Apr 7 10:54:00 EDT 2009

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NEWS FROM OWEESTA 

Spring 2009 Issue 

In This Issue
Stimulus Provides Over $2B For Tribes <>  
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Northern Shores Loan Fund <>  
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Oweesta's Clinton Global Initiative Commitment <>  
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Upcoming Events <>  

Message From The CEO
 <http://oweesta.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b035deb52b4f6b7068754c2f0&id=b83df3cc02&e=6d09630d54> Elsie Meeks

Hello Stewart, 

Welcome to the “first-ever” newsletter from Oweesta! There is so much news and so many changes going on in the country and in Native communities today, not to mention at Oweesta, the staff and I felt it was about time we launch a quarterly newsletter to provide timely and important information to our clients, partners, supporters, and others on topics relevant to all of our efforts to transform Native economies. We have three goals we hope to achieve with our newsletters- first is to share with you the latest news from the Native community development field; second is sharing the many successes and challenges overcome by our clients as they develop their institutions and programs as a way of helping and inspiring others on their own path of development; and third is to share the many new and exciting things happening at Oweesta. We hope you will find our articles informative and useful and will look forward to receiving them in your inbox! 

As many of you already know, Oweesta’s mission is to provide opportunities for Native people to develop assets and create wealth by assisting in the establishment of strong, permanent institutions and programs, contributing to economic independence and strengthening sovereignty for all Native communities. This mission and this work has never been more important than it is now. In these uncertain economic times, there are many challenges, yet also many opportunities, and Native people must believe that they have the right and responsibility to create wealth for their families and, thereby, their communities. That is the very essence of our mission and it is one I strongly, strongly believe in, which leads me to my next very important point. 

In the coming months, as some of you already know, I may be leaving Oweesta to work as the USDA Director of Rural Development for South Dakota. Senator Tim Johnson put his faith in me and recommended me to President Obama. As I wait for the Senate to confirm my official nomination, I will continue in my present role at Oweesta, one that I love. Leaving Oweesta may be the hardest decision I have ever made. I probably don’t need to tell anyone that Oweesta is a fantastic organization. We have a tremendous staff that will carry this work forward. My intention and hope is that even though I will leave Oweesta, this mission will be with me in my new position and for the rest of my life. 

Sincerely, 

Elsie Meeks 
President & CEO, Oweesta 

::
Oweesta 
is dedicated to developing Native assets and building Native communitites. 

To find out more about our products and services, click the links below. 

Training and Technical Assistance in: 
CDFI Development <http://oweesta.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b035deb52b4f6b7068754c2f0&id=13e7aff833&e=6d09630d54>  
Financial Education <http://oweesta.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b035deb52b4f6b7068754c2f0&id=393912438f&e=6d09630d54>  
Individual Development Accounts <http://oweesta.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b035deb52b4f6b7068754c2f0&id=49a15a3722&e=6d09630d54>  
Entrepreneurship  <http://oweesta.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b035deb52b4f6b7068754c2f0&id=e322b40f8c&e=6d09630d54> & Enterprise Development 
Credit Union Development <http://oweesta.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b035deb52b4f6b7068754c2f0&id=f849bf4419&e=6d09630d54>  
:: 
Oweesta Loan Products <http://oweesta.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b035deb52b4f6b7068754c2f0&id=816720d7e3&e=6d09630d54>  
:: 
Research, Policy  <http://oweesta.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b035deb52b4f6b7068754c2f0&id=623e56b622&e=6d09630d54> & Advocacy 
::

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Let us know what topics you'd like to see in future issues of "News From Oweesta". 
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Native Communities Receive Much Needed Funds From Stimulus Bill
$8 Million Designated for Native Initiatives of the CDFI Fund 

February 17, 2009 marked a day of celebration and hope for a brighter economic future for Native communities across the country as President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Of the $787 billion intended to provide a stimulus to the U.S. economy, close to $2.5 billion is dedicated to Indian tribes and Native communities and of that, $8 million is designated for the Native Initiatives of the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The CDFI Fund as a whole received $100 million in the Stimulus Bill, with $90 million for the main CDFI Program and $2 million for administrative expenses for the CDFI Fund. 

According to a statement made by Donna Gambrell, Director of the CDFI Fund, “The fact that the CDFI Fund is included in this significant legislation is an important recognition by Congress that the CDFI Fund plays a vital role in promoting economic revitalization in our Nation’s most distressed communities.” In the past the CDFI Fund’s annual budget was regularly cut at one point it was virtually eliminated. 

Continue Reading Article <http://oweesta.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b035deb52b4f6b7068754c2f0&id=d72d4d985d&e=6d09630d54>  

On the Tip of the Mitt: Northern Shores Loan Fund 
Insight to One Native CDFI’s Journey to Success 

Northern Shores Loan Fund (NSLF) just closed its first two loans and there is cause for celebration. NSLF is the new Native CDFI spin-off of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians (Odawa) also known as the Waganakising Odawak, in Northern Michigan. This is a huge milestone for the NSLF and the Odawa to reach, but it has not been easy getting here. Their journey up to this point has been one of incremental success, full of desire, perseverance, challenges overcome, and aspirations realized. 

The economic conditions within the Odawa Reservation and adjacent service areas are much like that of other Native communities throughout the United States – high unemployment rates, poverty rates over the state and national averages, and low levels of financial literacy. For most lenders in the financial industry this would be perceived as a risky area and not one with which they would like to develop a relationship, but surprisingly it is the perfect environment in which a Native CDFI could thrive and make a significant impact. 

Continue Reading Article <http://oweesta.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b035deb52b4f6b7068754c2f0&id=be05039944&e=6d09630d54>  

Oweesta Pledges Long-Term Commitment to Native Economic Growth 
Clinton Global Initiative Commitment Empowers Native Communities 

CALL TO ACTION! JOIN US IN OUR EFFORTS TO TRANSFORM NATIVE ECONOMIES! 

In a new 10-year “Commitment to Action” made to the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), Oweesta is promising fulfillment of our mission to assist Native communities with building assets for the future and creating an environment in which First Americans achieve true economic sovereignty. Through the development of new loan products, programs, services and online resources, we will broaden our reach to Native communities and people throughout the U.S. and assist with the development of asset building institutions, programs and systems to address poverty and education issues. 

By creating new, innovative and unique financial products and capacity building services for Native communities in the areas of institution, program and systems development during this 10-year period Oweesta expects to: 

*	Incorporate 80 new Native CDFIs; 
*	Establish 400 new financial education programs in Native communities; 
*	Certify 300 new financial education trainers; and 
*	Facilitate 100 new loans to Native CDFIs and related institutions.

Continue Reading Article <http://oweesta.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b035deb52b4f6b7068754c2f0&id=c90d293816&e=6d09630d54>  

Upcoming Events

Financial Education Instructor Training For Native Communities
April 21-23, 2009
Anchorage, AK 

This is a three-day instructor training and certification program to help Native organizations establish and sustain financial education programs in their communities. 

Click here for more information and to download an <http://oweesta.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b035deb52b4f6b7068754c2f0&id=7baa2a49e8&e=6d09630d54>  application.

Financial Education Instructor Training For Native Communities
May 5-7, 2009
Santa Ana Pueblo, NM 

This is a three-day instructor training and certification program to help Native organizations establish and sustain financial education programs in their communities. 

Click here for more information and to download an <http://oweesta.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b035deb52b4f6b7068754c2f0&id=5443c8509f&e=6d09630d54>  application.

National American Indian Housing Council Annual Conference
May 12-14, 2009
New Orleans, LA 

Oweesta will be facilitating a track of financial education and asset building sessions as well as a session on community development financial institutions (CDFIs)at NAIHC's Annual Convention and Trade Show. 

Click here for more information. <http://oweesta.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b035deb52b4f6b7068754c2f0&id=37e9ff5c1c&e=6d09630d54> 

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