A Small Business Administration grant will continue a project supporting Native American entrepreneurs at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
GROW Nebraska, Lakota Hope, and the UNL Extension began a program last year providing technical assistance and training to Native American entrepreneurs. A computer lab opened in Whiteclay, and training was provided to help 24 Native Americans market and sell their products.
Janell Anderson Ehrke, CEO of GROW Nebraska, says they want to expand the program to 48 entrepreneurs.
"We’ll be doing a monthly training call. We’re also going to be hosting a market, a buyers’ market, and we’ll actually have the artisans and bring in retail stores and other online stores, and be able to hopefully create some outlets for these Native American artists and crafters."
Ehrke says they want to empower Native American entrepreneurs to build their businesses and successfully market their products online.
Last year, the group met with 20 small business owners to evaluate their products, learn their stories, and see if there was interest in the program.