Qualla 2020: Diversifying the Qualla Economy

Qualla 2020:Diversifying the Qualla Economy

Fifth MeetingJune 27, 2014

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Agenda - Morning

9:00 Welcome and Introduction

9:15 Small Business and Entrepreneurship Action Plans

11:00 Knowledge Industry Action Plans

11:15 Real Estate Action Plans

11:30 Lunch

Agenda - Afternoon

12:00 Tourism Concept and Action Plans

12:45 Success Measures

1:30 Communication Plan

2:15 Next Steps, Assignments

2:30 Adjourn

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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, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Friday, March 21, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Yellow Hill Activity Center (Old Hardware Store) Wednesday, April 23, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Wednesday, May 21, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Friday, June 27, 9:00 am – 2:30 pm Tuesday, July 15, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Task teams have been meeting 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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Agenda - Morning





11:30 Lunch

Small Business Action Plans

Small Business and Entrepreneurship Action Plans for discussion today:

Create a source of information for small businesses Strengthen Chamber of Commerce Create an economic coalition to support small business

development and growth Build a more vibrant entrepreneurial culture on the Boundary Expand 8(a) businesses on the Boundary Expand sales of Cherokee art

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Success Factors for Small Business

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Action Plan: Create a Source of Information for Small Businesses

Goal - Create a single source of relevant information for businesses operating on or interested in coming to the Qualla Boundary. ActivitiesConduct relevant research to identify “best models”Research and consolidate relevant information to be provided to the business community

Tribal approval and lease process Tribal tax environment Contact persons Process flow chart or diagram

Compile demographic dataCompile resource data

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Organizational LeadershipCherokee Chamber of Commerce will be the leader of the effort and serve as the owner of the resulting information sources (online and hardcopy). The Chamber will lead the effort with primary assistance from the EBCI Commerce Department. Other resources will be engaged as required, i.e. tribal legal support, destination marketing, tribal grants and planning office. Contracted third party resources will play a critical role in structure and content of the final product.Western Carolina University may provide research consulting services

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ActivitiesPartner with advertising firm under contract to the tribe for review and analysis of proposed contentPrepare and issue an RFP to a minimum of three web site development resourcesSelect a firm to develop the websiteDevelop hard copy version of online materialDevelop policy to ensure ongoing, timely maintenance of materials

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Funding SourcesEstimated cost of website development is $50,000 with and annual maintenance/upgrade cost of $4000.Potential funding sources may include:

$25,000 from Preservation Foundation, $20,000 from Tribal Department of Commerce, and $5,000 from Cherokee Chamber of Commerce. Recurring annual maintenance/upgrade cost will be borne by

the Chamber of Commerce.

TimelineFunding available to Chamber by Spring, 2015Funding available to WCU for research by Spring, 2015Final products available to the public by August, 2015.

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Action Plan: Strengthen the Chamber of Commerce

Goals – Strengthen Cherokee Chamber of Commerce financially and operationally. ActivitiesDevelop a business case for supporting the Chamber from levy and privilege taxes on Cherokee businessesWork with EBCI Finance to develop potential formulas for obtaining funding from levy and privilege taxesSeek sources of ongoing funding from levy and privilege taxes through EBCI Executive and Legislative branchesSeek a share of funding from CPF/EBCI/GCTC marketing grantsIn parallel with the above, create a plan for expanding business assets in CherokeeDevelop and provide a complete array of small business services to Cherokee, including information disseminationCollaborate with surrounding Chambers and economic development agencies to seek small business growth

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Action Plan: Strengthen the Chamber of Commerce

Organizational leadership – Cherokee Chamber of CommerceParticipantsCherokee Chamber of Commerce – Amy ParkerEBCI Finance – TBDEBCI CommerceSurrounding Chambers and E.D. agenciesResources required - $80,000 annuallyFunding sources – EBCI levy and tax, CPF marketing grantsTimelineBusiness case/proposal from Chamber by August 15, 2014MOU between EBCI and Chamber by January 2015EBCI funding by January 2015CPF grant funding by Spring, 2015Chamber’s new programs in place December 2015

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Action Plan: Create Economic Development Coalition

Goal – Create an economic coalition to support small business attraction, development and growthActivities Develop a coordinated strategy to create new jobs in all sectors of existing businesses through expansion and growthCreate and implement a coordinated plan to attract businesses to locate in Cherokee and the surrounding three countiesDevelop a strategy that encourages entrepreneurial efforts to start businesses in targeted fieldsCoordinate and integrate the efforts of economic development on the Boundary with neighboring interests, including economic development agencies and Chambers in Swain, Jackson and Haywood Counties

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Action Plan: Create Economic Development Coalition

Organizational leadershipLed by Cherokee Chamber of Commerce – Amy ParkerEBCI Commerce – Jason LambertSequoyah Fund – Russ SeagleDestination Marketing – Skooter McCoySwain, Jackson and Haywood CountiesSmoky Mountain HostWCU – Steve MorseCPF – Mary Jane FergusonResources required – $10,000 for meeting expenses, printing, etc.Funding sources – Cherokee Preservation Foundation and in-kindTimelineCPF funding in Spring, 2015Coalition in place August, 2015

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Action Plan: Build a More Vibrant Entrepreneurial Culture

Goal – Build a more vibrant entrepreneurial culture on the Boundary.Entrepreneurial Small Business needs:MarketsLocation to lease or buildAccess to CapitalEmployeesSmall Business Training/Development ResourcesBusiness Services – Insurance, Accounting, Marketing, etc.Clear, Concise Information about the Selected EnvironmentSupply and Distribution Chain InformationConnectivityInspiration and Motivation

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ActivitiesEstablish a baseline description of a desirable/optimal small business environmentComplete research necessary to map the small business environment in CherokeeIdentify gaps/constraints between Cherokee environment and baselinePrioritize the challenges and attack the problemCreate incentives to come to CherokeeDevelop the resources and avenues to connect with potential small businesses locally, regionally and beyondOffer entrepreneurship trainingStart, gain momentum, and sustain the effort

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Attract and develop “creative class” in the region Can be attracted by:

Outdoor adventure and greenways Diverse atmosphere and tourism Sense of community Clean and beautiful environment Native American culture and heritage One-stop shopping to set up business But note: will need more restaurant and entertainment options

Can be developed by: Education and training programs to support Knowledge

Entrepreneurship Help with reaching external markets Access to expensive tools (example: Fab Lab)

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Organizational leadershipLed by Sequoyah Fund – Russ SeagleEBCI Commerce – Jason LambertTCGE – Ray RoseEBCI Destination Marketing – Skooter McCoyCherokee Chamber of Commerce – Amy ParkerResources required - $30,000 for consultant research and planningFunding sources –Cherokee Preservation Foundation and in-kindTimelineStart research and planning by Spring 2015Initial changes in place by December 2015Additional changes in place throughout 2016

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Action Plan: Expand Individual Businesses on Boundary Through 8(a) and other programs

Expanding businesses through the 8(a) and similar programs can be pursued at the level of the Tribe or at the level of individual Tribal members. There is a separate effort under way to pursue a Tribal 8(a) holding company, and so this action plan will focus solely on businesses owned by Tribal members.

Provide training, mentoring and coaching to Tribal members seeking to expand their own business through 8(a) and other programs

Technical assistance preparation of 8(a) application Development of mentor/mentee relationships for 8(a) Training for Hub Zone status Connection to SBDC procurement specialists

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Action Plan: Expand Individual 8(a) Businesses on Boundary

Questions for discussion: What businesses owned by Tribal members might be

appropriate for expansion through 8(a) and similar programs? How can EBCI staff reach potential business owners and make

sure that they know about this opportunity? What initiatives would be needed to develop the businesses? What funding (if any) would be required?

Leadership: EBCI Cherokee Enterprise Development Staff? Sequoyah Fund?

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Action Plan: Expand Sales of Cherokee Art

Goal – Expand sales by Cherokee artists, both traditional and contemporary art.Activities -Create online sales using available social media toolsDevelop a Cherokee authenticity labelDevelop a distinctive Cherokee brandCreate a Cherokee artist councilInclude both traditional and contemporary artBroker Cherokee art off-BoundaryProvide entrepreneurial trainingQualify Cherokee artist as trainersSupport creation of artist portfoliosProvide micro-loans to artistsSupport artists’ sales booths at various events

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Action Plan: Expand Sales of Cherokee Art

Organizational leadership – Sequoyah FundParticipantsSequoyah Fund – Russ Seagle, Hope HuskeyQualla Arts & Crafts – Vicki CruzResources required – Estimates to be developed by Sequoyah FundFunding sources – Primarily Sequoyah Fund with potential support from Cherokee Preservation FoundationTimelineSteps being taken now, others are being planned for 2014 execution.Seek grant funding from CPF for a Cherokee Arts Council by Spring 2014 ($60,000 estimate)

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Agenda - Morning





11:30 Lunch

Knowledge Industry Action Plans

To be reviewed today Marketing plan for attraction of Knowledge Industries Feasibility study for fiber-enabled office building and co-

working space

On hold Tribally-owned data center

This is already being explored by EBCI Commerce. Call center to service Harrah’s and other Caesar’s properties

This is being reviewed by a team at Harrah’s

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Marketing Plan for Attraction of Knowledge Industries

Goal: identify and attract small-midsize knowledge businesses to Boundary and 7 counties of Western NC

Activities: Inventory and quantify the key assets of Mountain West

Alliance region make it uniquely attractive to small, growing, entrepreneurial knowledge industry businesses

Conduct market research to develop clear profiles of target market segments/customers who would find the assets of Mountain West Alliance locations attractive.

Develop “market offering”: sites, information, incentives to share with potentially interested companies.

Develop and launch marketing campaign

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Resources Required Inventory of product/sites: organizational in-kind Logo and messaging: $5,000 Design/build web presence w/ interactive asset map: $7,500 Rich media content, photo/video: 3 videos @ approximately

$3,000/video shot, edited, delivered = $9,000 Design and publish print collateral: $1,500 Market Research (Experian – Proof of concept):

Existing regional economic condition profile: Pro bono (Experian) Develop surrounding target markets/businesses that align to built

and natural assets of our region: $21,500 Initial outreach to identified targets: $1,500 Host reception with tech industry trade groups/entrepreneurs

and local developers: $1,500 (local) TBD (neighboring metros)

Total: approximately $50,000

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Organizational home: Southwest Commission Potential Partners

EBCI Commerce, Economic Development Depts of 7 Western Counties, Duke Energy, Drake Software

Potential funding in cash and in kind Drake Software? Special assessment from 7 counties? EBCI? Cherokee Preservation Foundation?

Timeline: 18 months

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Feasibility Study for Fiber-Enabled Office Building and Co-Working Space

Goal: determine whether sufficient demand exists at specific rental price points to support cost of fiber-enabled office building/co-work space (similar to Mojo in Asheville)

Activities: Develop profile of potential users Conduct individual interviews and online survey of tech and home-

based entrepreneurs businesses within a 30-mile radius/located in Jackson or Swain County

Develop estimate of potential demand for office and co-working space and a suite of services at particular price points

Organizational leadership: Sequoyah Fund and Southwestern Commission

Resources: 60 hours of staff time (in kind); $1000 out-of-pocket Potential Partners: Chamber of Commerce, EBCI Commerce

Department, WCU Small Business Technical Development Center, Haywood Committee College Entrepreneurial Program the TERO Office and Small Business Centers at each of the community colleges (TCCC, HCC, SCC)

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Real Estate Action Plans

Two action plans under development for review today Create implementation plan for compacting BIA Realty

function Develop draft statutes to required to change individual

possessory holding legal framework

EBCI Attorney General’s Office, Commerce Department and Finance Department are actively reviewing HEARTH Act, so no need for an action plan on this subject

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Create Implementation Plan for Compacting BIA Realty Function

Goal: create an implementation plan for compacting the BIA Realty function.

What questions should the implementation plan answer? Options: What are the potential different options for compacting

the Realty function? Finances:

How much it would cost the Tribe to take over the function? How much money would the BIA pay the Tribe to provide the service?

Operations: What are the requirements in terms of people, software, and machines? What will be the impact on jobs?

Examples: What other tribes have done this and what has their experience been?

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Activities: Assessment of current Tribal Land Records documents

management by BIA Analysis of Realty Services workflow and procedures Recommendations and modifications to Land Records

Management database schema Estimate of the initial startup implementation cost Estimate of the long-term operating cost

Organizational leadership – Commerce Department Organizational participants in addition to Commerce

Tribal Housing Program - Paulette Cox EBCI Courts – Hannah Smith and her staff Chief’s Office - Paxton Myers Finance – Corey Blankenship or his designee GIS Office – David Wyatt

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Resources: Hiring of independent contractor to facilitate development of

implementation plan and development of new procedures $15,000

Travel cost for GIS office staff site visits to two other Tribes and National Tribal GIS conference

$14,000 GIS database schema modification cost and custom workflow

programming $20,000

Supplies $1,000

Total cost of implementation plan development: $50,000 Funding sources - TBD Timeline – 18 months

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Develop Draft Statutes for Individual Possessory Holding Legal Framework

Goal: Fund the legal work required to conduct research on how/whether other tribes

have changed statutes regarding individual possessory interests, and to develop draft statutes and regulations that would simplifying the process for leases and sales of individual possessory interests

Activities: Engage outside expert counsel Survey relevant tribal experience Review existing EBCI statutes, regulations and case law Develop initial draft of new proposed statutes and review with Executive and Tribal

Council leadership Public comment and community engagement

Prepare final draft of new proposed statutes for submission to Council Develop regulations and procedures required to fully implement new statutes

Resources required: approximately $40,000 for research, legal drafting and community engagement

Funding sources – TBD

Timeline – 18 months

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Agenda - Afternoon





2:30 Adjourn

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Overall Tourism Action Plan

Goal – Develop options for increasing tourism, utilizing cultural and natural assetsOrganizational Leadership - Skooter McCoy, Destination MarketingActivities -

New programs for Unto These Hills being discussed with CHA Board Relocate Oconaluftee village near the Museum Add fly fishing museum along with trout exhibit/aquarium Create a downtown Base Camp of the Smokies with appropriate retail Relocate Fairgrounds to old high school site Add convention center to high school site Develop wildlife attraction at the Oconaluftee Village site Improve attractiveness of Saunooke Village Add visitor amenities to the gaming destination Create all new visitor way-finding signage Develop a fishing pond for children Prepare a community gathering place

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Overall Tourism Action Plan

Next Steps Bring the concept to the CHA and Museum Boards, and get their acceptance and approval…discussions under wayCommunicate the district concept to EBCI Administration, Planning Board, Tribal Council, business owners, and community leadersConvene a coalition of organizations within each district to provide input during the transitionDevelop a master plan with renderings with cost estimates for the creation of the districtsConduct feasibility studies for the major element of the programStart archeological and Phase I environmental studiesOrganizational leadership – EBCI Destination MarketingResources required - TBDFunding sources - TBDTimeline - TBD

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Relocate Oconaluftee Village Near the Museum and Relocate Fairgrounds to the Old High School Site

Goal – To enhance the offerings of the Cherokee Cultural District and provide easy public access to the Oconaluftee VillageActivitiesRelocate Oconaluftee Village near the MuseumRelocate Fairgrounds to the old High School siteOrganizational LeadershipSkooter McCoy, Destination MarketingJohn Tissue, CHAResources requiredFunding for feasibility study and planningFunding for construction and relocation projectsFunding for initial operating costs

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Agenda - Afternoon





2:30 Adjourn

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Success Measures

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.

How would we know in three-five years if the Qualla 2020 Project has succeeded?

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Success Measures

One readily available measure: the proportion of the Tribal levy and privilege tax that comes from Casino versus the proportion that comes all other businesses

Information is collected and reported by Tribal Government on a regular basis.

What has the pattern been to date?

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Success Measures – Large Group Discussion

What do you see as the pros and cons of using levy and priviledge tax as a success measure?

What are other potential measures? Quantitative

Employment on the Boundary by sector Revenue on the Boundary by sector Business openings versus closings on the Boundary per year % of retail stores occupied

Qualitative Increased perception that the Boundary is a good place for

business investment Increased perception that Boundary offers good career

opportunities

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Small Group Assignment

Form small groups and choose the top 2-3 measures of success you think would be most useful and interesting:

Quantitative Levy and priviledge tax from Casino vs. all other businesses Employment on the Boundary by sector Revenue on the Boundary by sector Business openings versus closings on the Boundary per year % of retail stores occupied

Qualitative Increased perception that the Boundary is a good place for

business investment Increased perception that Boundary offers good career

opportunities

Others?

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Agenda - Afternoon





2:30 Adjourn

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Communications Plan

Overall strategy: Communicate all of the Qualla 2020 action plans together as a complete set of recommendations 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.

Why communicate all of the Qualla 2020 plans together rather than one-by-one?

Audience is the same or similar for all the plans Shows a complete picture of the plans – and how they support

one another Makes it easier to reach larger audience Helps reduce confusion which might result from different

communication approaches for each action plan Requires less resources per plan

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Communication Modes

In-person meetings Tribal Council work session Meetings with community members in a range of settings

Television A short video that can be broadcast in a loop on Channel 28

Printed materials Three-fold, double-sided brochure that describes the proposed action

plan goals and strategies Can be distributed at Chief’s Office, Hospital, Revenue Office, TANF

building On-line

Information on Cherokee Preservation Foundation web site; also potentially on EBCI web site

Qualla 2020 Facebook page Email and social media

Email, Twitter, Facebook posts to highlight plans and meetings Newspaper

Article in One Feather and other local papers Insert in One Feather

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Communications Timeline

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Communications Timeline

Next Steps

Fifth meeting of task teams by phone Continue work on options

Research Interviews Financial analysis Exploration of funding sources Development of recommendations

Focus on communications, leadership and activities moving forward after final Qualla 2020 meeting

BWB Solutions and Medicine Root will staff and facilitate tasks teams and conduct additional research as necessary

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Contact Information

Ben [email protected]

(303) 818-4926

John [email protected]

(203) 314-8600

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Qualla 2020: Diversifying the Qualla Economy

Documents

action plans12

small business page

detailed action plans

real estate action plans11

culture action plan

small business development

source of information

small businessesgoal