Where: Spokane Indian Reservation, Washington
Issue: Native communities lack economic opportunity and affordable housing
Outcome: RCAC provides training and technical assistance to help the Spokane Indian Housing Authority create jobs and increase affordable housing development
RCAC worked with the Spokane Indian Housing Authority (SIHA) through its Building Rural Economies (BRE) initiative. Using the BRE principles, SIHA created the Three Bands Construction Company, a full-service general contracting and construction division. Since 2016, the company has created six new full-time jobs.
The company generated nearly $3 million in revenue during 2016 and is on track to make an additional $26.8 million by 2019.
During the nearly 40 years since RCAC was established, staff have pro- vided training, technical and financial resources so rural communities can achieve their goals. A key component is helping communities develop their own assets and resources to build and expand their rural economies.
In 2013, RCAC established the BRE program with three aims. The program increases local entrepreneurship and jobs; develops catalytic projects that seed additional investments; and develops a supportive, entrepreneurial environment for economic development to thrive. In 2017, RCAC‘s BRE program helped to create 38 new or expanded businesses and 27 new jobs throughout the American West.
Spokane Indian Reservation (SIR) has a population of almost 3,000; employment opportunities are limited. Population within the SIR boundaries is largely Native American, and a significant proportion is low-income. The Bureau of Indian Affairs has documented Tribal unemployment rates that average between 43 and 77 percent.
In addition, SIHA staff are participating in Tribal Housing Excellence Academy’s (THE Academy) second cohort, which began training in the fall of 2017. RCAC and Native Capital Access (NCA) launched THE Academy, a three year initiative to apply best practices to leverage resources to increase the number and type of housing units produced on Native lands.
THE Academy provides an incubator to develop new skills and form new strategies to develop and finance housing. THE Academy also gives participants a forum to discuss issues of governance, culture and public policy unique to Tribes.
