Gatekeeper to growth and development, Choctaws begin organizing for new initiative
By STEPHENIE OCHOA
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
DURANT– Sara-Jane Smallwood, Promise Zone Coordinator for the Choctaw Nation, spoke to local economic representatives, educators and business leaders at the third annual E3 Economic Summit at Southeastern Oklahoma State University June 17.
Smallwood spoke of the designation of the Choctaw Nation as the first tribal Promise Zone, one of five areas in the U.S. to be selected. “The designation in January was a huge surprise and also a huge joy when we found out that we were the first and the only tribe to be designated as a Promise Zone in the country,” Smallwood said.
President Barack Obama also designated urban and rural areas in San Antonio, Las Angeles, Philadelphia, and Southeastern Kentucky as Promise Zones, beginning the anti-poverty program aimed at providing resources and improving conditions for those communities.
Smallwood said the initiative would enhance cooperation between federal agencies, governmental branches, community advocates and Native American tribes. “My job is to work with all of our leaders, both internally and externally, to figure out what our needs are and put the pieces together to communicate that to federal agencies,” Smallwood said. “Right now, we are focusing on a few key areas that we know will contribute to our economy and create a better workforce for tomorrow.”
John Redman, Rural Development Specialist for the United States Development Agency (USDA), also speaking at the E3 Economic Summit, said the government wants to invest in what works by helping these Promise Zone areas define clear goals and gain access to more resources. “We’re going to try to fund as many projects as we can,” Redman said. “We are looking for new projects to partner with the Choctaw Nation and their local affiliates, so the Choctaw Nation is going to be a very important player in economic development here in the years looking forward.”
Kathy Hendrick, Director of the Southeastern Center for Regional Competitiveness stated, “In general, the Choctaw Nation has already made a huge impact on the Southeastern Oklahoma areas and the Promise Zone initiative will only help those areas to develop and grow more.”