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Presenters included the Tribal General Manager and Enterprise Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Manager – Fort McDowell Baja Gas Station, and Assistant General Counsel.
Sipaulovi: Sustainable economic development in Hopi
Currently, 70 percent or more of personal income “leaks” off the Hopi reservation. In an effort to help the Hopi Nation diversify its economy and reduce the leakage, Grand Canyon Trust partnered with the Sipaulovi Village Board of Directors and administration to develop a comprehensive community economic development plan. We also organized a Sipaulovi Enterprise Corporation. An outgrowth of this effort was the initiation of a strategic plan for a sustainable retail development that includes a convenience store, gas station, café, and other amenities. To make this a reality, we worked with Sipaulovi to complete a professional, bankable business plan, secured funding of $180,000 to pay for a general manager and all necessary land clearances, developed architectural site plans and schematics, established a strong relationship with the Arizona Business Bank, and facilitated two successful strategic planning sessions.
Sipaulovi is in the process of getting final approval from the Hopi Tribal Council for the project to proceed.
During the spring of 2004, the Grand Canyon Trust conducted a public workshop for Sipaulovi Village on sustainable economic development alternatives. The Village later requested our help in developing a convenience store/marketplace that incorporates traditional Hopi architectural style and conservation elements.
Sipaulovi, one of three villages located on Second Mesa, is near the junction of state highway 180 and 264, one of the best locations for such a business on the Hopi reservation. Sipaulovi retains traditional Hopi governance; the village is governed by a Kikmongwi and has a western style village administration and board to handle secular affairs. Sipaulovi has three representatives on the Hopi Tribal Council.
In November 2004, we facilitated a 2-day strategic planning session that covered a range of important topics, including the feasibility of such a venture at the site, operations and management considerations, and strategies to ensure compatibility with village values and vision. Several organizations assisted with feasibility research and high-level business advisement, including the executive management team of the Fort McDowell-Yavapai Nation Enterprises, and the Center for American Indian Economic Development at Northern Arizona University.
Because residents value their cultural traditions, they wanted the development to respect local goals, preserve resources and culture, and be part of an overall economic program that incorporates long-term management of the Village’s business projects. They also wanted to incorporate the Hopi philosophy of suminangwa, which is interpreted as “making businesses locations inviting for socialization.” The project’s vision statement also specifies that the development include a dining franchise that offers a healthy alternative to fast food, and that the building be certified by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), because it would use renewable energy and native plants for landscaping.
A highlight of the session was the generous participation of the Fort McDowell-Yavapai Nation business executive team. They provided extensive knowledge and advice on taxes, board/executive structure, community involvement, politics, checks and balances, accounting, incentives, and specifics on all their businesses, particularly their Baja Convenience Market.
Another successful strategic planning session was held for Sipaulovi Village in October 2007. The village refocused its efforts, especially on the sustainable marketplace and, more importantly, reenergized itself to continue the journey of building a sustainable economy. The effort has resulted in:
- Completion of a master plan. The site plan and schematics ensured that local village leaders and citizens were fully comfortable with the scale and look of the proposed project.
- Creation of a village-supported enterprise board comprised of several business owners and a representative from the Hopi Credit Union.
- Development of a professional business plan including the final site selection so the village understands the type, scale, product mix, financing requirements, cash flow, marketing concepts, and the type of employees that would be needed for the marketplace.
- Securing of funding for environmental and cultural clearances from the Hopi Nation. These studies are now complete.
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