Minnesota American Indian Chamber of Commerce celebrates Purchasing Power Initiative at 32nd Annual Gathering

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December 21, 2019


PRIOR LAKE, MN. – December 06, 2019 – The Minnesota American Indian Chamber of Commerce (MAICC) hosted its annual day of recognizing Minnesota American Indian Business included a Tribal Leaders Forum where MAICC member tribal leaders came together to discuss the support of advancing American Indian business interests at the Mystic Lake Hotel & Casino on December 6th.

Since 1989, the MAICC has worked to expand the economic opportunities for American Indians in Minnesota, promote the development of American Indian business activity, expand job opportunities, and promote the entrance of American Indian Entrepreneurs in Minnesota’s competitive business community.

The MAICC is one of the first American Indian chambers in the United States and the oldest chamber for people of color in Minnesota. The MAICC’s primary market includes Minnesota Tribal Governments, American Indian owned Businesses and Non-Profits, and American Indian Professionals. Their secondary market that provides for Federal, State, and Local organizations, companies, and government agencies that wish to support, buy from or sell to American Indian owned businesses.

The MAICC Purchasing Power Initiative’s ultimate goal is to identify viable economic development opportunities for Tribes and American Indian Business owners.

At the annual dinner, over 400 people gathered for an evening of 2019 accomplishments and future goals. The Purchasing Power Initiative online platform is powered by the leadership of Ashwani Dhiman of Red Rock Innovations.

“We are motivated to create joint purchasing opportunities internally within a tribe and all of its enterprises, and externally amongst multiple Tribes,” said Joanne Whiterabbit, executive director of MAICC. “As well as to identify Tribal or American Indian owned economic enterprises outside of gaming for development with the built-in success of spend.”

National Indian Gaming Association Chairman Ernie Stevens, Jr., echoed support and said, “It is our passion to pull the tribes together on a national level to follow the Chamber as one of our leaders in the power of purchase.”
To continue the momentum of the MAICC’s Purchasing Power Initiative, Chairman shared, “We acknowledge the Chamber’s leadership and will recognize and promote the initiative at our annual Indian Gaming Convention and Tradeshow in 2020.”