tribes get 245$K for job creation klamath tribe 081811

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http://news.opb.org/article/tribes-get-245k-job-creation/

Tribes Get $245K For Job Creation

April Baer, August 18, 2011, Oregon Public Broadcast,

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded $245,000 to three groups in Oregon to promote job creation in tribal communities.

Rural Business Enterprise Grants are going to programs in 15 states. In Oregon, Chemeketa Community College will get $50,000 to expand a series of classes for people starting small businesses.

Forrest Peck runs the program. He says the classes offer advice to all kinds of small entrepreneurs.

"This is one of the coolest things I've been involved in," he said.

"We've seen folks who do crafts, several people working in the construction field, another person had a barbecue idea,"

The grant, he says, will let the program expand from a one-hour session to do more one-on-one counseling. The goal, he says is to spin off the program under the leadership of tribal mentors.

Grants also went to the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, and the Klamath Tribes for different business projects.