Native American-owned businesses from five states are meeting in Great Falls this week to network and share ideas for overcoming barriers and finding opportunities. The 10-year-old Montana Indian Business Alliance is putting on the conference Tuesday through Thursday. Representatives from state and federal agencies, tribes, businesses and lending organizations are all on the agenda.
Barb Stiffarm of Havre is the Alliance’s board chair:
"One of the opportunities that I see that is emerging is access to new technology, broadband. A lot of our tribal communities here in Montana, that new technology is just currently being made available to help promote businesses and opportunity and some of the trading that goes on online."
Montana native-owned businesses at the conference in Great Falls will be joined by those from the Dakotas, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Find more information about the Montana Indian Business Alliance conference here.