FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LONGMONT, Colorado (December 15, 2011) – First Nations Oweesta Corporation (Oweesta) and the Johnson Scholarship Foundation are partnering to conduct a feasibility study for a project intended to facilitate partnerships between tribal colleges and Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) in selected American Indian communities.
 
Native CDFIs are making an enormous impact in the growth of private sector business in Indian Country by providing financing to aspiring entrepreneurs and offering training and technical assistance resources as well. Additionally, tribal colleges offer essential educational opportunities to community members through their business development programs.

In an effort to enhance the collaboration between Native CDFIs and tribal colleges within their communities, the Johnson Scholarship Foundation, Oweesta and First Nations Development Institute have developed a framework for a model designed to facilitate a pipeline for local entrepreneurs to obtain quality business education and capital that allows for business start-up and expansion.

“The feasibility study will allow our organizations an opportunity to explore this model further and identify two communities to eventually pilot this exciting project, “ shared Jon Panamaroff, President & CEO of First Nations Oweesta Corporation.

The Johnson Scholarship Foundation is a private Foundation with a mission to assist disadvantaged people to obtain education. The Foundation believes that education can empower disadvantaged people to improve their economic circumstances and quality of life. The Foundation operates a number of core programs, which were established by its founder, and supports the education of disabled, economically disadvantaged and American Indian students. The Foundation’s support of these causes is delivered through a variety of scholarships and grant programs. For more information, visit www.jsf.bz.

About First Nations Oweesta Corporation
First Nations Oweesta Corporation is a wholly-held subsidiary of First Nations Development Institute dedicated to growing the Native Community Development Financial Institution industry. The launch of Oweesta has directly contributed to the availability of needed debt capital in tribal communities. For more information, visit www.oweesta.org.  

About First Nations Development Institute
For more than thirty years, using a three-pronged strategy of educating grassroots practitioners, advocating for systemic change, and capitalizing Indian communities, First Nations has been working to restore Native American control and culturally-compatible stewardship of the assets they own – be they land, human potential, cultural heritage, or natural resources – and to establish new assets for ensuring the long-term vitality of Native communities.  First Nations serves rural and reservation-based Native American communities throughout the United States. For more information about First Nations, visit www.firstnations.org.

CONTACT:
Jon Deacon Panamaroff, President & CEO
(303) 774-7836
jon@oweesta.org  

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