[NFEC Update] Oweesta to Offer Financial Education Grants in South Dakota

Tue Apr 21 11:45:59 EDT 2009

910 Fifth Street * Suite 101 * Rapid City, SD  57701

(605) 342-3770 * Fax (605) 342-3771

An affiliate of First Nations Development Institute * www.oweesta.org
<http://www.oweesta.org>  

PRESS RELEASE

Contact:               Kim Hayes, (301) 585-1131; kim at oweesta.org
<mailto:kim at oweesta.org> 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Oweesta to Offer Financial Education Grants in South Dakota

April 17, 2009, Rapid City, SD// The First Nations Oweesta Corporation
(Oweesta) is pleased to announce a grant opportunity for Native
organizations serving Native communities and people in South Dakota.
With funding provided by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines,
Oweesta is launching the second year of the South Dakota Native
Financial Education Grant that will award three mini-grants in the
amount of $2,000 each to Native organizations delivering financial
education training and/or homebuyer education to Native people in the
state of South Dakota. 

Elsie Meeks, president and CEO of Oweesta comments, "Financial education
and homebuyer education are essential elements in building strong Native
communities.  We are pleased to offer the second round of the South
Dakota Native Financial Education Grant to support and expand these
efforts in the state of South Dakota.  Oweesta thanks the Federal Home
Loan Bank of Des Moines for the opportunity and for providing the
funding for the grant."

Organizations that currently offer or are in the process of finalizing
the development of financial education and/or homebuyer education
programs are encouraged to apply. The South Dakota Native Financial
Education Grant will fund organizations to enhance their programs and
increase their ability to effectively deliver training and education in
their community. Deadline to apply is May 29, 2008. Please visit 
http://www.oweesta.org/SDNFEGrant for a program description and
application instructions or contact David Fleming with specific
questions on this grant at (605) 342-3770 or David at oweesta.org
<mailto:David at oweesta.org> .

The four recipients of the first round of the South Dakota Native
Financial Education Grant were the Teton Coalition in Rapid City, the
Lakota Funds in Kyle, Four Bands Community Fund in Eagle Butte, and the
Ponca Economic Development Corporation in Lincoln, Nebraska which serves
members of the Ponca Tribe in South Dakota. Grant recipients used the
awards in a variety of ways including upgrading their computer and
impact data tracking systems, offering additional financial education
workshops, purchasing course materials and increasing their outreach
efforts.  Because of this funding, at least 120 adults as well as middle
and high school students participated in financial education and home
buyer education courses. 

###

About Oweesta 

Oweesta (http://www.oweesta.org <http://www.oweesta.org/> ) is a
certified Native CDFI intermediary, providing Native communities with
loans, investments, technical assistance, training and community
development information.  Its mission is to provide opportunities for
Native people to develop assets and create wealth by assisting in the
establishment of strong, permanent institutions and programs, leading to
economic independence and strengthening sovereignty for all Native
communities.

About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines 

 The Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines is a wholesale cooperative
bank that provides low-cost short and long-term funding and community
lending to more than 1,200 members, including commercial banks, saving
institutions, credit unions and insurance companies. The Bank is wholly
owned by its members and receives no taxpayer funding. The Des Moines
Bank serves Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota and
is one of twelve regional Banks that make up the Federal Home Loan Bank
System.

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