LAS VEGAS — Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren met with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) during his visit to the Reservation Economic Summit in Las Vegas, Nevada, which was held from April 3-6.
Chief of staff Arthur Plews and assistant administrator Jackson Brossy represented the SBA to discus economic and small business development.
President Nygren shared vital information with the SBA. He informed them of the current conditions on Navajo Nation as it relates to the lack of small business and economic development.
While small business has always been the backbone of the U.S., it has not been in the Navajo Nation
“We need to begin policy revision so that the Navajo Nation can be more friendly toward small business development.
Plews was intrigued by the information and acknowledged the lack of outreach and support and has committed to working on future projects including possible representation of the Navajo Nation by the SBA.
President Nygren invited the SBA to the Navajo Nation to help them get a better understanding of the challenges and to discuss solutions.
Brossy shared with the President that the federal government has small business development centers around the country that serve communities. He also acknowledged in many places a center could be too far away for many.
“They serve entrepreneurs, but the problem is they’re located hours away from where we are today, so we’re going to do a consultation on that,” said Brossy.
Small Business Development Centers provide counseling and training to small businesses including working with the SBA to develop and provide informational tools to support business start-ups and existing business expansion.
The summit, sponsored by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development featured tribal leaders, members of Congress, federal agency representatives, state and local officials, and top CEO’s on a national platform.
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