Qualla 2020:
Diversifying the Qualla Economy
Initial Meeting
February 25, 2014
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Agenda
1:00pm
Introduction and Goals
1:15pm
Large Group Brainstorming: Potential Approaches
for Diversifying the Qualla Boundary Economy
1:35pm
Small Group Discussion: Most Promising
Suggestions
2:00pm
Report Out and Consolidation
2:45pm
Next Steps
3:00pm
Adjourn
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Cherokee Core Values
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Prayer, Faith, Spirituality
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Group Harmony
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Strong Individual Character
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Sense of Place
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Honoring the Past
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Educating the Children
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Sense of Humor
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Qualla 2020 Goals
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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
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Six Committee meetings
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Tuesday, February 25, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Friday, March 21, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
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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 – 3:00 pm
Tuesday, July 15, 9:00 am – 3:00 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
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Action plan criteria:
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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:
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Goal
Participants
Activities
Organizational leadership
Resources required
Funding sources
Timeline
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Potential Approaches for Diversifying the Qualla
Boundary Economy
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Brainstorming session to generate potential ideas
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Topics for brainstorming:
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Enterprise development overseen by tribal economic
development authority
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Potential types of businesses
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Potential funding sources
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Government contracting
Professional services
Real estate investments
Cultural tourism and attractions
Knowledge industries/broadband
SBA 8(a) contracts
New Markets Tax Credit (CDE)
Entrepreneurial development – support for small business
entrepreneurs
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High Priority Suggestions
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Group the suggestions into five topics
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Assign one topic to each of five tables
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Participants then choose tables for small group discussion
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High Priority Suggestions:
Small Group Assignment
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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
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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
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Small groups report out
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Note areas of overlap and similarity
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Develop consolidated list for consideration by task teams
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Create task teams
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Contact person for each task team
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Next Steps
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Initial meetings of task teams by phone
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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
[email protected]
(303) 818-4926
John Weiser
[email protected]
(203) 314-8600