The Gila River Entrepreneurship Program (Program), implemented in October 1999, was created by Council to promote grass roots economic development by assisting in the creation and expansion of enrolled Community member owned businesses.

The Program consists of four basic components:

The Program’s goal is to accomplish the projected outcome of the creation of new businesses that provide basic services to the Community, new sources of income for Community Members, job development, increase of Community assets and the stimulation of economic vitality.

After six years of operation, the Program continues to create jobs, generate income, build assets, create networking opportunities, assist in local procurement opportunities and enhance business skills. These results are particularly impressive considering a significant proportion of the entrepreneurs assisted face barriers presented by race, gender, income, job market fluctuations and location. Whether the business is the sole source of family income or a crucial supplement to family earnings, the Program has assisted in routing some Community Families to the road to self-sufficiency. The Program is continuing to provide financial services to constituencies that, while not necessarily among the poorest, are overlooked by the traditional banking sector.