The American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin (AICCW) advocates to provide access to resources for Tribal Enterprises designed to assist in planning for start-up operations & expansions, management services, responsive training programs, and access to creative funding and financing solutions, to help tribal enterprises achieve their respective goals. Contact Gary Mejchar, Acting Director at [email protected] to learn more.
The AICCW advocates for all Native-owned business operating in Wisconsin as well as entrepreneurs just formulating plans to launch a new business in the state. According to the most recent Census tribal members from more than 40 tribal affiliations call Wisconsin home. Advocacy for includes assisting to resource workshops for Native youth to assist them explore business ownership as a career option, early-stage entrepreneurial support to help ascertain the feasibility of, and build robust plans for, a business start-up, help to provide access to affordable business loans and creative funding solutions, help to guide business expansion and business succession planning. To find out more about how AICCW maybe able to assist, please contact Gary Mejchar, Acting Director at [email protected]
Currently, for example, the AICCW serves as the business development organization for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Disadvantage Business Enterprises (DBE) Loan Mobilization Guaranty Program – https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/doing-bus/civil-rights/dbe/business-growth-development.aspx – designed to assist certified DBEs access funds needed to perform won DBE contracts/sub-contracts and ensures Native DBE representation on the WisDOT Transportation Advisory Committee (TransAC). The AICCW is fortunate to currently being funded by the Wisconsin Department of Administration’s Diverse Business Assistance Program designed to assist businesses disproportionately impacted by the pandemic to further recover and build resilience against the next economically disruptive event – https://doa.wi.gov/Pages/DiverseBusinessAssistance.aspx . The AICCW is also working in cooperation with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue to present a series of webinars on Wisconsin Business Taxes and Wisconsin Taxation Related to Native Americans, including how various Wisconsin taxes apply to Native Americans and those who deal with Native Americans (link to flyer). Contact Gary Mejchar, Acting Director at [email protected] to learn more on how AICCW works with Wisconsin State Agencies on behalf of Wisconsin Native businesses and Tribal enterprises.
Currently the AICCW is also collaborating with EDA to develop Wisconsin Tribal Communities of Practice, with the initial focus upon providing professional development opportunities for planners from those tribes with EDA Economic Recovery and Diversification investments. The AICCW works with Regional Planning Commissions (RPCs) to encourage that RPCs’ valuable business, community and economic development resources are accessible to tribal communities in respective RPCs’ service areas. The AICCW also works closely with nonprofit organizations such as the Wisconsin Economic Development Association (WEDA) to ensure that tribes and tribal members are accessing WEDA’s professional development courses, and participation in WEDA’s annual cycle of events and conferences. The AICCW is also privileged to collaborate with a wide network of non-profit and Native organizations in a role of advocating for Native and Tribally owned businesses. For example, the AICCW is pleased to collaborate with the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Councils’ https://www.glitc.org/programs/economic-development/american-indian-economic-development-technical-assistance/ and https://www.glitc.org/programs/economic-development/economic-development-administration/overview-eda/ for many years, including planning and delivery co-sponsored Native business & economic development workshops and events. The AICCW also works closely with the Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI) – https://www.wispro.org/ – to ensure Native business owners’ and tribal enterprises access to Wisconsin procurement technical assistance center and pathways to access government procurement and contracting marketplaces. . To find out more about how AICCW maybe able to assist, please contact Gary Mejchar, Acting Director at [email protected]
