STEVENS POINT, Wis., Nov. 27, 2024 – Ahead of Native American Heritage Day, November 29, 2024, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Wisconsin State Director Julie Lassa highlighted some of the recent investments the Department has made in Tribal projects in Wisconsin.
“On Native American Heritage Day and throughout the month of November, which is Native American Heritage Month, we are highlighting USDA’s support of Native Americans and USDA’s continuing partnerships with Wisconsin Tribes,” Lassa said. “USDA programs help Tribal members in Wisconsin buy homes, start and expand businesses, improve community infrastructure; and preserve Tribal land and culture. This is something we recognize all year as we value the important contributions of Native Americans in Wisconsin.”
Since 2020, the USDA has funded nearly $13.3 million in Tribal communities and businesses in Wisconsin. Some recent examples of projects include the following:
- In October, through a partnership with the Native Community Development Financial Institution (Native CDFI), the Department invested a $876,000 loan to finance approximately 9 homes for Native Americans living on Tribal lands in Wisconsin. The demonstration program provides loans to Native CDFIs, which then work within communities to provide financing to eligible homebuyers on Native lands to build, purchase or repair homes. USDA is providing funding through the Native CDFI Relending Demonstration Program, which is administered under the Single Family Housing Direct Loan Program.
- With the help of a $99,999 Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG), the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin purchased equipment for a shared kitchen for 10 Native American business owners. The kitchen incubator will support small business owners who aspire to grow produce, process food and experiment with developing value-added products. The kitchen will also be available to community members who cater private and public events. There will be food-processing activities, such as training, education, and certification for Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). Having these credentials will allow businesses to foster safe food processing practices and product development leading to the sale of products to local vendors. The kitchen incubator project will ultimately increase healthy food options for the community and the Tribe. Having a licensed processing facility will allow businesses to use the kitchen for value-added product development, food processing, and catering.
- In Bayfield County, an independent producer of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians is using $62,975 for working capital to process Lake Superior whitefish, trout, and herring into smoked fish dips, pre-packaged smoked fish, pickled fish, caviar, fish cakes, frozen vacuum-packed fish fillets. Funds will also be used for processing, marketing and distribution.
- With the help of a $103,000 grant through the Rural Community Development Initiative, an Ohio-based Great Lakes Community Action Partnership, the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians will focus on how to use, maintain and share Geographic Information System (GIS) data with the overarching goal of building capacity and sustainability in rural utilities systems.
- The Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO) Ojibwe Universitywill use a $344,895 Tribal College Initiative Grant (TCIG) to renovate the interior of the Bakade Café on the campus. The Bakade Café provides food services to faculty, staff, students and the LCO community. Renovation will provide more efficient use of space, updated equipment, and is critical for the continued success of the college and the educational environment. In addition to the academic programming, the campus is utilized by the community for public meetings, pow-wows, graduation exercises, specialized training services, company in-services, and for access to the public library.
There are more programs through which USDA is providing funding to Tribes in Wisconsin. More information is available online: Tribal Relations | Rural Development.
USDA RD helps bolster Tribal initiatives in Wisconsin by other forms of support as well, including letters of confirmation. USDA RD Wisconsin recently provided a letter of confirmation for the Sokaogon Chippewa Community Mole Lake Band of Chippewa Tribe for their $10 million health clinic expansion in Crandon. The new clinic will add 10,000 square feet and will be equipped with technology and equipment to increase services onsite and through online telehealth with healthcare partners.
These are just some examples of how USDA RD is working with Tribes in Wisconsin, during Native American Heritage Month, and throughout the year.
