BUSINESS · ISSUE 3 OF 3
Local Economic Development
What it is
Most money earned on the Navajo Nation is spent off it — in Gallup, Farmington, Flagstaff, and other border towns. Candidates proposed different ways to keep dollars circulating at home: arts stimulus programs (Donovan Begay proposed an October stipend so artists could buy materials before the November-December selling season), fairground and event center improvements, local-first contracting, and site-lease reform to enable new businesses to open on the Nation.
Learn
Understand the system — then consult an expert
Economic Development 101 — jobs, businesses, leases, capital, workforce, housing, and economic sovereignty.
Land, Grazing & Homesite Leases 101 — site leases are the first barrier to opening a business on the Nation.
Where would the money come from? — candidates on economic development, verbatim.
Consult an expert: Ask about business development on the Nation →
Plan & Assess
Where candidates stand — weigh it yourself
Local Economic Development — candidates side by side — what each candidate proposed for keeping money on the Nation.
Ask any candidate: What specific business opened or expanded in this chapter because of your efforts? What is your plan for site-lease reform? Full list →
Act
What you can do now
Start a business: The business site lease process starts at the chapter. Request information on available sites →
Report a barrier: If a site lease application stalled without reason, document it. Share what you observe →
Report & Monitor
Track progress — hold the right office accountable
What should be public: Business site lease approval times, approved businesses by chapter, and what economic development programs produced measurable results. What should be public →
Track: Economic development survey → · Community Findings → · Share what you observe →