Challenges to Challenges to Development on the Development on the

Navajo NationNavajo Nation

What I DidWhat I Did Intern at Tuba City Regional Business Intern at Tuba City Regional Business

Development OfficeDevelopment Office Serves 16 chapters of Navajo NationServes 16 chapters of Navajo Nation Helps facilitate small business developmentHelps facilitate small business development

-Administers small and micro loan program -Administers small and micro loan program ($500-$250,000)($500-$250,000)

-Provides technical assistance with local -Provides technical assistance with local community planning, business site leasing, community planning, business site leasing, and business site developmentand business site development-Offers training programs for entrepreneurs-Offers training programs for entrepreneurs

The State of the Navajo The State of the Navajo EconomyEconomy

48% unemployment (U.S.: ~6.1%)48% unemployment (U.S.: ~6.1%) 42% below the poverty line (U.S.: 42% below the poverty line (U.S.:

12.5%)12.5%) Median Household Income: $27,389 Median Household Income: $27,389

(U.S.: $44,473)(U.S.: $44,473) Government and government-related Government and government-related

jobs are the biggest sources of jobs are the biggest sources of employment on reservation employment on reservation

Barriers to DevelopmentBarriers to Development InfrastructureInfrastructure CreditCredit EducationEducation Land status (business site leasing Land status (business site leasing

process)process)

Business-Site LeasingBusiness-Site Leasing No private landNo private land All reservation land is land held in All reservation land is land held in

trust by the U.S. government for the trust by the U.S. government for the Navajo NationNavajo Nation

Grazing permitsGrazing permits Bureaucratic process (next slide)Bureaucratic process (next slide)

The ProcessThe Process

What’s ChangingWhat’s Changing Shonto Chapter has recently been Shonto Chapter has recently been

granted the right to perform their granted the right to perform their own BSL’sown BSL’s

First of 110 chapters (long way to go)First of 110 chapters (long way to go)

My ImpressionsMy Impressions There is hope; land ripe for renewable There is hope; land ripe for renewable

energy projects and gaming should bring energy projects and gaming should bring in revenue (along with obvious in revenue (along with obvious downsides)downsides)

Cycle of dependence is difficult to breakCycle of dependence is difficult to break ““Change” is a four-letter word in NavajoChange” is a four-letter word in Navajo Without private land, it is extremely Without private land, it is extremely

difficult to have a vibrant economydifficult to have a vibrant economy Economic development vs. preserving Economic development vs. preserving

traditiontradition