Tribal Council approves Venture Fund grants

15 awards ranging from $1000 to $5000

By Michael Barrett

Freelance Writer

            At the Regular Tribal Council meeting of August 12, 2003, Carolyn Whitefeather, Special Projects Technician, presented to the Tribe the selection committee’s recommendations for this round of Venture Fund Grants.

            This marked the fourth round of Tribal Venture Fund Grants, with the last selection taking place in November 2000. ,

            The Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Venture Fund was established by the Red Lake Tribal Council in 1999. It’s main purpose was to encourage and support Red Lake Band members in their efforts to start family owned businesses. Successful applicants were awarded up to $5,000 to assist in the development of business plans, equipment purchases, working capital and etc. in pursuing a business idea or opportunity. All Red Lake Band members were eligible to apply for these grants.

             Whitefeather named the committee members, who were Sandra King, Chris Jourdain, Clarence Brown, Barb Beaulieu, Deanna Lasley, Preston Graves and Orianna Kingbird, followed by provided a list of all the applicants who submitted applications and business plans for the Venture Fund. There were over a hundred applications for this round of Venture Funding.

            “It was pretty hard deciding who was going to get what,” she stated. “Everybody had some real good plans. July 25^th was the day that we decided that at some point we have to come to some conclusion. Barbra Beaulieu and Preston Graves devised a point system, whereas the other ones–Orianna, Deanna, Sandra and Chris–decided they wanted interviews–and Clarence.”

            She said she set up two days of interviews, who was interviewed, and who they selected.

            “There were five daycare services that applied for funds,” she said. “The committee all agreed that they were all much needed services, but could not justify selecting just one or two. So Barb Beaulieu suggested in a previous meeting to split one block of $5,000 to provide $1,000 awards, with a stipulation that Sandra King or other qualified staff would assist them in obtaining grants, because there are grants available out there for daycare services.”

            She explained that took care of one slot, and the remaining slots they chose were: Douglas Stately for reforestation at $5,000; Peter McKenzie for sound production at $5,000; Verlin Kingbird and Barry Oakgrove for a cabinet and woodshop for $5,000; Roger Strong for drywall services at $5,000. Michael Barrett for Red Lake Net News service at $5,000; Richard Defoe Jr. for a carpentry shop at $5,000, Henry Donnell Sr. for the Red Lake Buffalo Farm at $5,000; Shirley Hardy Spears for lawn care services at $5,000; Lucas Bratvold for gold-plating services at $3,770; and Fabian Kingbird for a cleaning machine at $1,230.

            Those receiving $1,000 grants were Orlyn Donnell, Cheryl English, Victor Roy Jr.,Connie Chaboyea and Elice Varney.

            The total Venture Fund was $50,000.

            Whitefeather explained that in her letter to the Council, she stated in previous rounds of the Venture Fund the Tribal Council was accused of political favorites with no follow-up as to how the applicants spent their funds.

            “Last year the Tribal Secretary asked that I complete a review of former applicants and how their business was progressing,” she said. “So when Butch was here–and alive–I did that review and presented it to youse, and out of 26 applicants, 15 responded.”

            She said she thought she was going to be the one monitoring them and making sure they spent their money for their business project. Grantees were going to have to have receipts, she was going to be following and helping them in any way she could, and the committee had suggestions and stipulations for them.

            Something different from past Venture Fund grantees, was that an agreement be made with the Tribe and applicant that they attend classes on business management, marketing strategy, financial management, and other courses involved in operating a small business when they become available in this area.

            Another stipulation the committee suggested was an agreement between the grantee and Tribe, that if the funds were not used for the purpose intended, that the applicant be made to repay the Tribe for the grant.

            There was a discussion amongst the Council members on those selected, the projects, with the questions answered by Whitefeather. There was also a discussion on non-resident members who had applied, of which none were selected based on the point system the committee utilized.

            Representative Pemberton made the motion to approve the selections as presented, seconded by Representative Johnson, and the motion passed unanimously.

            On Thursday, August 28, 2003, an awards ceremony was held at Red Lake Tribal Headquarters, where those awarded grants signed necessary documents and received their funds.

            Whitefeather spoke about her and Sandy King’s commitment to help daycare providers look for other funds available and explained why the five applicants received each $1,000 rather than the $5,000 they had asked for.

            “We wished we could have funded everybody,” she said. “That’s the way the committee wanted it to be, but it just wasn’t possible.”

            Aside from those receiving Venture Fund grants, also at the meeting was Tribal Treasurer Darrell Seki, Sr., Orianna Kingbird, and Deanna Lasley.

            Whitefeather also read the terms and conditions in receiving the grants, for which each grantee would sign. Those conditions included attending small business classes when they were available in the area, they would provide valid receipts to the project coordinator dated after this date, they would have to provide a semi-annual report either written or orally to the Venture Fund Committee six months after today’s date, and if for any reason a grantee couldn’t begin to operate their business within the first year after receiving the funds, a grantee had to show just cause as to the reasons.

            It would be at the discretion of the committee whether the grantee would have to repay the tribe the full amount they were granted. Another term was a grantee had to provide information when requested from the project coordinator on the business progress, including site visits, change of address and telephone numbers.

            “I’m pretty proud of them [committee members],” Whitefeather stated. “They did a good job, they thought it thoroughly out, they talked with each other, asked for interviews, and you came. That showed us the dedication you have for what you want to do. It’s just unfortunate that everybody couldn’t get funded.”

            She also stated she didn’t know if there would be any more Venture Funds available for future business ventures, and more than likely that would depend on the Tribal Council.

            Treasurer Seki congratulated those receiving the grants and that it took a lot of work to be an entrepreneur–one hundred percent commitment.

            Seki is also an entrepreneur and runs a small store in the Ponemah area.

            “You have to be honest with yourself, and the revenues you make, you have to remember, you have to reinvest in your business,” he said. “If yo don’t, it’s a rough road. But there’s also other resources once you guys get established and your records in order.”

            Seki also talked about business plans, Tribal Credit and other programs that might be available for further assistance.

            Those receiving funding during the first round of Venture Fund Grants were Royce Kingbird for a PA System Service, Larry Adams for a Video Production Facility, Nora Thunder and Verdell Beaulieu for a Car Wash/Auto Parts/Oil Change Business, Karen Barrett-Beaulieu for a Blueberry Cultivator Trail business, Celia Littlecreek for an Artist Studio, Marilyn Mountain for a marketing study to find retail/wholesale outlets for Red Lake craftspeople, Tom Barrett for Big Bear Window Repair and Replacement, Celeste Beaulieu for a Word Processing, Bookkeeping, Income Tax Service business, and Clayton Rudolph for Rudolph Mechanical.

            In the second round of Venture Funding in August 1999, those receiving grants were Bev Schoenborn for a Floral Shop, Pat Desjarlait Jr. for a Fine Arts business, Valarie Norris for a Web Design and Computer Consulting business, Donna Mae Sumner for start-up costs for Donna’s Café, Adrian Beaulieu for beef herd development, and Harold ‘Z-man’ Graves for a Convenience Store.

            The third round of Venture Funding took place in November 2000, with 12 persons each receiving grants. Receiving funding were Charity Prentice for Daycare Services, Herb Nelson Sr., for his auto repair business expansion, Barb Fairbanks for expanding her current restaurant business, Theresa McGraw to expand her red Oak Beauty Parlor, Noreen Beaulieu-Smith for expanding Beaulieu’s Café, Sheldon Bailey for expanding his business, Sharon Barrett for expanding her daycare facility, Charles Martin Sr., for expanding his auto salvage business, Earl Thomas for additional tools and equipment to perform better auto repair services, Clyde Graves to expand his Graves Electric business, Frances Smith for updating and expanding his Smith Carpet Cleaning business, and Herman Lussier for operation of a fish fry business.