Qualla 2020: Diversifying the Qualla Economy

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Qualla 2020Diversifying the Qualla Economy

• Initial Meeting
• February 25, 2014

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Agenda

• 100pm Introduction and Goals
• 115pm Large Group Brainstorming Potential
  Approaches for Diversifying the Qualla
  Boundary Economy
• 135pm Small Group Discussion Most Promising
  Suggestions
• 200pm Report Out and Consolidation
• 245pm Next Steps
• 300pm Adjourn

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Cherokee Core Values

• Prayer, Faith, Spirituality
• Group Harmony
• Strong Individual Character
• Sense of Place
• Honoring the Past
• Educating the Children
• Sense of Humor

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Qualla 2020 Goals

• The purpose of the Qualla 2020 Project is to
  diversify the Cherokee economy and reduce its
  risks so that it can better ensure the well-being
  of the Cherokee population into the future. 
• In order to do this, the Qualla 2020 Project will
  seek to mitigate the dependence of the economy on
  gaming revenues, and to develop and expand
  businesses in ways that uphold the core values of
  the Cherokee people.

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Qualla 2020 Process

• Six Committee meetings
• Tuesday, February 25, 900 am 300 pm
• Friday, March 21, 900 am 300 pm
• Yellow Hill Activity Center (Old Hardware Store)
  
• Wednesday, April 23, 900 am 300 pm
• Wednesday, May 21, 900 am 300 pm
• Friday, June 27, 900 am 300 pm
• Tuesday, July 15, 900 am 300 pm
• Task teams will meet by phone between Committee
  meetings to develop detailed action plans for
  Committee review
• Committee will choose action plans to recommend
  to EBCI Administration, EBCI Tribal Council and
  Cherokee Preservation Foundation

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Action Plan Definition

• Action plan criteria
• Achievable with the resources controlled by
  institutions and individuals on the Qualla
  Boundary
• Create visible differences within a year or two
• Support traditional Cherokee values and culture
• Action plan elements
• Goal
• Participants
• Activities
• Organizational leadership
• Resources required
• Funding sources
• Timeline

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Potential Approaches for Diversifying the Qualla
Boundary Economy

• Brainstorming session to generate potential ideas
• Topics for brainstorming
• Enterprise development overseen by tribal
  economic development authority
• Potential types of businesses
• Government contracting
• Professional services
• Real estate investments
• Cultural tourism and attractions
• Knowledge industries/broadband
• Potential funding sources
• SBA 8(a) contracts
• New Markets Tax Credit (CDE)
• Entrepreneurial development support for small
  business entrepreneurs

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High Priority Suggestions

• Group the suggestions into five topics
• Assign one topic to each of five tables
• Participants then choose tables for small group
  discussion

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High Priority Suggestions Small Group Assignment

• Appoint scribe and spokesperson
• Review suggestions in your topic area add
  additional suggestions if appropriate
• Make list of top five six suggestions that your
  group thinks are most promising for diversifying
  the Qualla economy
• Criteria for choosing top five- six suggestions
• Have the ability to generate significant revenue
  in the long run
• Can be implemented with resources controlled by
  EBCI
• Build on unique EBCI assets (people, culture,
  land, money)
• Can start to show noticeable results within
  several years
• Support traditional Cherokee values and quality
  of life on the Boundary

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Report Out and Consolidation

• Small groups report out
• Note areas of overlap and similarity
• Develop consolidated list for consideration by
  task teams
• Create task teams
• Contact person for each task team

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Next Steps

• Initial meetings of task teams by phone
• Establish goals
• Develop workplans and timelines
• Note potential funding sources
• BWB Solutions and Medicine Root will staff and
  facilitate tasks teams and conduct additional
  research as necessary

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Contact Information

• Ben Sherman
• sherman1491_at_gmail.com
• [phone]
• John Weiser
• johnw_at_bwbsolutions.com
• [phone]