Six tribally-owned businesses are receiving a boost thanks to this year’s grants from the Regional Development Corporation’s Tribal Economic Diversity Fund – a program supported by LANL operator Triad National Security, LLC.
The businesses – whose owners are members of San Ildefonso, Ohkay Owingeh, Taos, and Santa Clara Pueblos – received grant funding ranging from $4,900 to $8,000. Triad supports the economic diversity activities of the RDC with an investment under its Community Commitment Plan.
The Tribal Economic Diversity Fund makes grant awards to tribal businesses that allow them to diversify, increase revenue, leverage other investments, create new jobs and have systems in place that lead to growth. In addition, the RDC offers technical assistance to all applicants, whether or not they were awarded funding.
The 2021 Tribal Economic Diversity Fund awardees are:
- Ryan Roller Fine Arts - Santa Clara - Funds will be used to purchase a new computer to create high-quality video and audio for a feature length documentary showcasing pueblo pottery.
- JEM Custom Cabinets - Ohkay Owingeh - Funds will be used to purchase a professional table saw and a helical cutter head.
- The Tiwa Kitchen Restaurant - Taos Pueblo - Funds will be used to purchase new product packaging equipment, UPC labels, and e-commerce website design.
- Passport to Pueblo Country - San Ildefonso - Funds will be used to upgrade a traditional wood oven.
- Shundine's Frybread - Taos Pueblo - Funds will be used to purchase the required equipment needed to relocate the Frybread stand from Taos Pueblo to land in Arroyo Seco.
- Avanyu LLC - San Ildefonso - Funds will be used to purchase a Cisco firewall and switch, upgrade to new cat 6 cable, and for training on the new system.