Welcome to ONABEN
Native American entrepreneurs build a network of success
By Molly Young, Oregonian
Oregon's Native American entrepreneurs launched businesses at one of the nation's fastest rates before the recession, opening their doors at a pace more than double the U.S. average.
Most were solo entrepreneurs, who generated more than $105 million in sales in 2007. Of those, 4,263 Native businesses survived, a nearly 40 percent increase from 2002.
But official statistics stop in 2007 -- the year before the great recession rattled small business across the country. The status of entrepreneurship today, as well as economic development, are among pressing issues for the 3,000 tribal leaders convening in Portland this week starting today for the National Congress of American Indians' annual convention.
The stories of two Oregon Native business owners and a local nonprofit offer a glimpse at the impact of the recession and the local network helping Native entrepreneurs succeed.
A nonprofit devoted to Native entrepreneurship
When four Oregon tribes formed the Oregon Native American Business and Entrepreneurial Network more than two decades ago, leaders wanted to fill the void for business training. Now the Tigard nonprofit is affecting business growth across the country.
The group created its own business curriculum and trains tribal leaders looking for a Native-specific resource for entrepreneurs.
"There's a ton of business training curriculum, but none really spoke to our particular audience of Native entrepreneurs," Deputy Director Eric Jordan said. "In a sense, we've translated our materials to be embraced by our audience."
Indianpreneurship launched in 2005, targeting Oregon and Washington tribes. Students work through the course in a classroom environment, and finish several months later with a business plan in hand. As the recession worsened, more people turned to entrepreneurship, said Tom Hampson, the nonprofit's director.
Word started spreading. By 2008, 16 tribal organizations and colleges had turned to the nonprofit for entrepreneurship training. The nonprofit sold 366 student copies of the course that year. In 2010, 36 organizations enrolled in training courses and sales had grown by 113 percent.
The organization shortened its name to ONABEN and realized there was a market for its curriculum. It now accounts for a quarter of the group's funding. Only one-third of Indianpreneurship students will actually start a business in the next three to five years, Hampson said, but those who do will have the skills to succeed.
Economic growth depends on the next generation of Native entrepreneurs, Johnson said. He's hoping to build a foundation course for high school students, to show them that business ownership is a viable path.
"Entreprenuership is a pathway of empowerment and ownership," he said.
--Molly Young
Twitter: @PDXSmlBizNews
