PEDCO Micro-Business Opportunities Project
Welcome Future Business Owners!
Thanks for visiting this website! PEDCO is committed to assisting members of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska with the development and growth of their businesses. We will continually update this site to add more resources and information that is valuable to our participants.
PEDCO – WHO WE ARE
The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska chartered the Ponca Economic Development Corporation (PEDCO) as a Tribal corporation. PEDCO is the primary vehicle for economic development for the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska. PEDCO maximizes the competitive advantages of the Ponca Tribe’s sovereign status and associated rights to attract investments and build capital while maintaining the cultural values of the Ponca People.
MICRO-BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES PROJECT VISION
Improving the quality of life for our Members by providing business resources to create, sustain and enhance Ponca-owned business.
MICRO-BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES PROJECT MISSION
To assist Tribal Members in their move towards personal reliance and independence by providing stable, diversified self-employment opportunities through micro-business development training and services.
MICRO-BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES PROJECT SUMMARY
The PEDCO Micro-Business Opportunities Project is a one year program funded by the Administration of Native Americans for fiscal year 2008. The project supports small business development for Ponca Tribal Member participants by providing FREE entrepreneurial training, start-up services, credit repair services, web-based technical assistance, and more. Services are tailored to meet the needs of both adults and youth. Additionally, the project links participants to other Tribal services and offers an incentive program utilizing community donations to reward progress toward self-determined micro-business goals. PEDCO has partnered with several community organizations to enhance the project impact and sustainability.
We will provide a step-by-step approach to starting your business from training to technical assistance to community resources to assistance with the development of your business plan...while you provide the drive and desire. We are hoping to recruit youth, adults and elders. If you have a talent, vision, or just an idea and you would like to determine if it could be your future, or for more information, contact Becci White, 402-208-1135, or email Becci@PoncaTribe.biz.
What Can We Do For You?
PROJECT SERVICES
FREE Entrepreneurial/Small BusinessTraining
Participants can attend classes in a Tribal Service office or through our website during the grant year and through the website after the grant year. Courses are taught by an education professional and certified NxLevel Training Instructor, Ponca Member Becci White. The NxLeveL ™ Entrepreneurial Training Programs were developed and designedesigned to train both potential and existing entrepreneurs by offering a practical, condensed series of entrepreneurial training sessions. You will learn to:
Assess your business idea and set goals
Make a business and personal budget
Build and repair your credit
Identify your customer and how to market to them
Write a business plan to get financing
FREE Assessment and Referrals
During our grant year, if you contact us and your needs are not within the scope of PEDCO and the PMBO Center, we have a referral program. Once you complete the initial assessment, we may determine that you have other needs. To assist you, we can refer you to resources that may help you thrive in your current situation. Our referral services include departments within the Tribe such as Social Service and Education, but also include many external resources. Resource referrals can be accessed through this website or through any Tribal Service Office after the grant year.
FREE Use of the PMBO Center
PEDCO has created a Micro-Business Opportunities (PMBO) Center for small business development in the Lincoln Tribal Office that will help you with your business needs. The PMBO Center includes a business resource library, computers, a fax machine, printer, and a telephone to be used for your business needs. A list of community resources for these needs will be provided for all other service areas. PMBO Center will also provide technical assistance during business hours in the Center.
Incentives and Rewards
Participants earn incentive rewards during this grant year provided by the Center for People In Need and other organizations as they reach each of their self-determined goals throughout the program.
First Year Graduates Get:
• FREE QuickBooks business software
• FREE hour of free legal services to set up your business
• FREE on-going business counseling and mentoring
• FREE business advertising on www.poncatradingpost.com
• AND MORE
Start-up Mentoring and Financing
PEDCO has developed community partnerships and resources to help with your business success. The community partnerships include a number of professional experts from the community that will guide the PEDCO Micro-Business Opportunities Project throughout our grant year. The community resources will include many of the partnerships, but will also include resources in each service area that will assist you in the development of your business. Resource referrals can be accessed through this website after the grant year. Graduates will be linked with community professionals who will mentor them throughout their start-up business phase. Graduates can also be linked with financing opportunities.
What Do We Need From Participants?
- Commitment to a 8 week course (3 hours per night)
- Weekly business plan assignments
- Drive and dedication to business
How Do You Get Started?
Classes begin in spring of 2008. For more information or to sign up contact:
Becci White, Project Technical Business Assistant
(402) 208-1135
Becci@PoncaTribe.biz