2004 Annual Report Executive Summary
Northwoods NiiJii Enterprise Community
Northwoods NiiJii Enterprise Community (NNEC) is a unique partnership among three Native American Tribes and eight municipal partners in rural northern Wisconsin. NNEC encompasses 335,000 square acres of primarily forest reservation land and has a population of 6,320, which struggles to achieve personal success utilizing some of the lowest levels of income in the Nation.
At the outset of the Strategic Plan, median family income averaged from six to eleven thousand annually depending on the reservation examined. Yet, these communities have a big vision… to build sustainable communities by empowering citizens to foster partnerships and mobilize resources for the elimination of poverty for future generations.
FUNDING: Using a comprehensive community-based strategic planning process, 72 community development projects with a total budget of $92 million has been developed. Almost $60 million has been raised since project implementation began six years ago, bringing these communities two-thirds of the way toward funding their ten-year strategic plan. Over the life of the project thus far, almost $865,000 million in Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community Program (EZ/EC) seed funds has been leveraged to $60 million in direct project funding and more than $7 million in in-kind resources, proving a leveraging ratio of 77: 1. Of the funding received, approximately 68% comes from federal sources, 9% from state and local governments, 9% from the private sector and 14% from Tribal governments. Efforts are underway to expand private sector participation in the initiative.
BUILDING CAPACITY: During 2004, NNEC recruited 122 new partners to participate in development efforts, including stakeholders, technical assistants, agencies and organizations, bringing the total number of partners to 405 since inception. Nearly 100 community members are engaged in leadership roles in the implementation of projects. Partnership coordination and community involvement remain cornerstones to the success of NNEC efforts. 1,265 community members volunteered to assist with projects and events, and 28,320 clients were served by projects. Continued community involvement is vital to securing relevance in development efforts and a prerequisite for implementing the community empowerment process.
IMPACT: While many community members/clients served by the initiative are not aware of NNEC’s involvement to seed or launch project initiatives, the majority of this small population is benefiting from EZ/EC effort; as users of public infrastructure, buildings and playgroups, as recipients of business education, support or finance, as residents living in environmentally pristine areas, in improved housing with ownership options, as participants in community events, as college students or through support for their students’ education and elders’ services. One measure of impact is in terms of jobs creation. Over the life of the project, 1,304 jobs have been created or saved. Of these, 207 youth and 10 college graduates found jobs, 215 retained jobs and 872 new jobs were created. For perspective, it is worthy to note that the number of new jobs created represents an approximate third of the population of EZ/EC residents in the workforce.
BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE: In 2004, one road project on the Mole Lake Reservation was completed and capacity built to allow the Tribe to obtain maintenance cost reimbursements, bringing the total of road improvements to 76 miles. Results of infrastructure development efforts include seven streets/sidewalks renovated, five miles of recreation trails established, three miles of water systems installed and expanded several water and sewer projects. On the Menominee Reservation, completed construction of the Tribal Judicial Facility, bringing the total to ten buildings built/renovated, three improved, and three playgrounds built. New retail and office space has been constructed, an industrial park expanded, and two potential business parks are in the planning stages, which all help to expand and support reservation economic development efforts. The public now has Internet access and IT assistance via the Lac du Flambeau Planning and Information Center facilities; and developed three new websites to link tourism to the Enterprise Community. Obtained and completed distribution of federal excess computers and IT equipment to Menominee College, NAES, Menominee Business Center, and community members.
EMPOWERING CITIZENS THROUGH EDUCATION: NNEC has provided capacity building training to more than 300 community members in leadership, grantsmanship and community development to date. Menominee College Expansion is complete with new classrooms, student union, and other expanded interior and exterior facilities and infrastructure. The student body expanded.
71 Menominee families actively engaged in youth’s activities.
227 participants trained in Lac du Flambeau with sponsorship of adult job enhancing curriculum including leadership, supervision, communications, and management.
86 students in Mole Lake have received educational and cultural enhancements resulting in improved school performance.
Projects and facilities to support healthy communities, such as health clinics, a wellness center and community gardens are moving forward.
PRESERVING AND PROMOTING THE ENVIRONMENT: Two projects made substantive contributions to the Tribes’ ability to protect environmental resources, preserving 36,720 acres regionally. NNEC developed water quality standards for Mole Lake and Wolf River Basin to preserve environmental quality. An environmental education project and a solid waste/recycling program were improved. NNEC achieved pollution reduction through the establishment of a Mole Lake recycling center and implementation of a curbside pick-up of solid waste and recyclables in Keshena.
ADDRESSING OTHER CRITICAL SOCIAL & HOUSING NEEDS: The Affordable Housing/Homebuyers collaborative continues to provide homebuyers with credit and family financial fitness training. NNEC is assisting in building financial institutional relationships and mortgage programs that address the needs of reservation residents.
BUILDING AN ECONOMIC BASE: NNEC has adopted a four-pronged strategy to building an economic base: support for an entrepreneurial culture, value-added expansion, diversification of the economy, and regional cooperation.
This year initiated a “Circle of Business Supports” Program to support entrepreneurial development including advocacy, education, incubation and finance, with positive impact on business development regionally. To date, NNEC including its developable site partners, have attracted 109 businesses, started 28, and expanded eight, served 1,339 business clients and one new loan fund has been established.
Northwoods NiiJii EC Summary Page Northwoods NiiJii EC Funding Page