http://www.silverbelt.com/articles/2008/06/23/apache_moccasin/apache3.txt

First Native American Reservation Chamber of Commerce

Published: Monday, June 23, 2008 6:03 PM CDT

The Business Community of San Carlos Apache Reservation has formally
established the first Native American Reservation Based Chamber of Commerce
in the United States.

San Carlos business leaders met Monday, June 16, to discuss issues facing
trade and commerce on the San Carlos Apache Reservation.

With gasoline prices at record highs, many reservation residents can not
afford to travel long distances for needed goods and services; nor can some
afford to commute to jobs off the reservation.

This fact creates great opportunity for certain businesses to open and
flourish in the San Carlos area.

The leaders addressed the lack of dedication of the tribal government to
effectively support and promote small businesses located with the
reservation border.

There are many tribal members with the entrepreneur spirit in San Carlos
that are met with a laundry list of requirements just to apply for a
business start up loan.

Several of these require extensive research and studies literally
impossible for the average citizen to complete without the assistance of an
astute Chamber of Commerce

Lobbying the tribal government to establish clean regulations regarding
trade and commerce on the reservation was discussed in depth.

Creating a ’Äútraining’Äù program for future tribal council members in
serving their constituents was also an interesting topic. Encouraging our
highly educated and talented professional tribal members currently living
outside the reservation lines to move back to San Carlos will be a future
priority for the Chamber. Providing support for reservation based small
business owners is the focus of the group.

The leaders moved to establish the Chamber and named a temporary board to
conduct official business until membership is build and permanent board
members are elected under the official by-laws of the San Carlos Area
Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber will meet weekly while the organization process is underway.
The next meeting of the group was held Monday, June 23, at the Excel
facility in Peridot, Arizona. For more information please call (928)
475-3213.