Last month the Wisconsin Indigenous Housing and Economic Development Corporation hosted the first-ever Wisconsin conference dedicated to Indigenous housing and economic development.
The two-day conference, which was held Nov. 7-8 in Shawano County’s village of Bowler, worked to foster collaboration among Indigenous entrepreneurs, Tribal leadership and economic development professionals.
The conference featured educational programs and breakout sessions on housing, clean energy and cannabis initiatives. One of the highlights was a pitch contest where 22 Indigenous-owned businesses each received a $5,000 grant funded by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.
While the conference and its focus area was a first in itself, two studies revealed during the event — WIHEDC’s Economic Impact Study and the Wisconsin Native Homeownership Coalition’s housing study — also marked significant firsts.
WIHEDC’s Economic Impact Study, the first non-gaming industry study of its kind, surveyed 177 businesses from 64 industries such as construction, technical services, retail and recreation. Based on the survey data, WIHEDC estimates that Native-owned businesses and Tribal enterprises in Wisconsin produced upwards of $4 billion in economic output and added between 21,190 and 28,573 jobs last year.
The study confirms what many knew but lacked the data to prove — Indigenous-owned businesses contribute greatly to local and state economies by creating jobs, generating revenue and supporting entrepreneurship. They support not only Indigenous communities, but also surrounding areas, often in regions that need development.
The economic impact study establishes a baseline of historically underdocumented data that highlights the broader economic impacts of Indigenous-owned businesses and reveals opportunities. This study will be a critical piece of the puzzle when it comes to connecting Indigenous entrepreneurs and business owners to resources that will help them grow.
The data supports a clear fact: Native-owned businesses are strong economic drivers and diversifiers in Wisconsin, and a diverse economy strengthens our state’s resilience as a whole.
