White Earth Investment Initiative

Programs: Business loan fund:the white earth investment initiative engages in community economic development services, targeting residents of the white earth reservation and other native americans statewide. In 2014 one $61,020 microenterprise loan was provided to a member of the target population

development services: the white earth reservation is in need of community economic development services, including development services. It has a 14. 5 percent unemployment rate, median family income of just $45,219 and a poverty rate of 22. 6 percent. (us census acs 2006-2010) weii offers homebuyer education, housing counseling and taxpayer assistance to residents of the white earth reservation and surrounding communities to support financial literacy and access to affordable financial products and services. In 2014, 391 tax returns were filed free of charge through the tax preparation program. Sixty households received free housing couinseling and 48 households also participated in free homebuyer education, helping to prepare them for asset-building through homeownership.

consumer loan fund: 91 consumer loans totaling $288,923. 42 were closed in 2014. Nearly all recipients lived within the boundaries of the white earth reservation or were native americans living off-reservation. Common uses of funds included debt consolidation, car repair or purchase, christmas loans, home heating fuel purchase, and bill payment. Consumers typically face barriers to mainstream credit and may have too much debt, have debt that is poorly structured or may have problems managing their debt; favorable terms may include lower-than standard down-payment, higher loan-to-value ratio, etc.