Many great business ideas never materialize due to lack of funding or space to operate from, but fortunately Gila River community members will have an answer to both these issues as the Economic Development Department begins their plans to renovate the Sacaton Commercial Center.
The office building currently houses the Sacaton Post Office and MTO Smoke Shop while an abandoned bank office sits idle on the east half of the building. Economic Development is renovating the entire building including relocating and expanding the MTO Smoke Shop, improving the interior of the post office and adding a drive through mail drop on the outside, and turning the abandoned bank space into business offices or retail space for Gila River's talented entrepreneurs.
The project is now in the beginning stages of renovation with the Economic Development Department eager to provide community entrepreneurs with an opportunity to operate their own business in a familiar local setting.
The GRIC Entrepreneurship Program offers micro business loans from $500 to $25,000 and mall business loans from $25,000 to $150,000 to community members who are in business already or who desire to begin their own business.
According to David Jacome, Economic Development Planner, "We have all this money for community members (to start a business) but they have no office space from which to operate their business.
" That insight is the main inspiration for the redevelopment project. Jacome explained that it is very easy to lease office space outside of the Community, but the Economic Development Department wants the monies loaned out to circulate to other tribal businesses within the Community and to create more jobs.
One of the unique ways they are approaching this project is by utilizing "green" methods to keep costs low. Casey Turgeon, Project Manager/Tribal Projects Development, who is spearheading the green initiative says "What makes our project green will be our use of solar lighting for the parking lot as well as natural lighting within the building itself." Turgeon admitted the project won't be seeking any official certification in energy efficiency but is looking into how they can keep utility costs low.
The office space is being referred to as "incubator space". It will be a place where entrepreneurs can generate their own money in their own office space and grow their business with the assistance of the GRIC Entrepreneurship Program. The purpose of creating incubator pace is to increase the success rate of Community member owned businesses by providing support services throughout the critical first stages of the business cycle. These businesses will provide basic services and products that are not being provided at this time.
Four individual small offices will be built consisting of between 230 sq. ft to 275 sq. ft. Proposed in the office space is a small conference/ training room containing a refrigerator sink and microwave along with separate men and women's restrooms. Currently interest in leasing office and retail space include a beauty salon, video store, sign company, website services, legal services, taxi shuttle, engineering service, party supplies, wedding photos, print shop, insurance company, pest control, pavement sweeper company and sandwich shop.
Economic Development believes that the office space and the loan program will bring in more goods and services that Community members normally get off reservation.
Gila River entrepreneurs will soon get office space. Like the presentations made in each District, Task Force Chairman Anthony Hill gave the California members the same presentations about the project and the existing constitution and followed with time for the audience to ask questions.
Like many of the Arizona members, the California Members asked many questions regarding the constitution's membership requirements. They also expressed concern with the section of the constitution that states that membership in the community is automatically relinquished if one leaves the reservation and remains away or 20 years. Finally, the California members also asked questions regarding the transfer of property through probate.
In addition to the presentations on the constitution, tribal members also heard presentations from tribal representatives on per capita distributions, water rights, elections and enrollment. Members also updated their records with the enrollment and elections departments, received new tribal identification cards, and asked questions about planned per capita distributions.
The Task Force plans to return to California after completing the first draft. For further information on the project, please contact Gerald Calnimptewa, Project Manager at (520) 562-9757 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
If you are interested in starting a business and leasing space at the Sacaton Commercial Center, contact the David Jacome of the Entrepreneurship Program of the Economic Development Department at 520.562.6138.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|