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.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, any copyrighted
material  herein is distributed without profit or payment to those who have
expressed  a  prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit
research and  educational purposes only. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml
 

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