CONFEDERATED SALISH AND KOOTENAI TRIBES COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY February 2021 COMMENTS and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ (CSKT) Economic Development Office would like to thank all of the Tribal members (over 771 people) who participated in the 2014 Sustainable Economic Development Study and Job and Training Needs Survey, and at public meetings over the past few years to discuss Tribal economic development priorities and strategies. This input helped shape the Workforce Development and Business Assistance strategies of this Plan, and helped identify the priorities that you feel we should be addressing in economic development. We appreciate your thoughts and ideas. We would like to thank our partners who also assisted with development of this Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. Project Partners (Steering Committee members) include Sam Wall (S&K Business Services and Sovereign Leasing and Financing, Inc.), Ruth Swaney (CSKT Finance Office), Erin Krantz (Job Service Polson), Marie Hirsch (Arlee Community Development Corporation), Stacey Sherwin, Tracie McDonald and Terri Cordier (Salish Kootenai College), Michelle Mitchell (Tribal Education Department), Patricia Courchane and Traci Couture (Department of Human Resource Development), Melinda Charlo (Tribal Personnel Indian Preference Office), Jody Perez (Salish and Kootenai Housing Authority), Jean Matt (Mission Valley Power), and Bryon Miller (S&K Gaming). We would also like to thank Velda Shelby, Jennifer Finley and James Bible who have either assisted with editing this document or have provided assistance to the Committee. Most importantly, we would like to thank the Tribal Elders and the Tribal Council for their thoughtful guidance and perspective. Tribal Council members include: Shelly R. Fyant (Chairwoman), Anita Matt (Vice-Chair), Ellie Bundy (Secretary), Martin Charlo (Treasurer), Carole Lankford, Fred Matt, James V. Matt, Len TwoTeeth, Charmel Gillin and Michael Dolson. -- Janet Camel, CSKT Planning Director and Principal Author -- Sam Wall, EDA Planner for CSKT CSKT Comprehensive Economic Development Plan/Strategy 2021 Page i CSKT Comprehensive Economic Development Plan/Strategy 2021 Page ii TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................................... 1 2 FLATHEAD RESERVATION ECONOMIC SETTING ................................................................................................... 3 CONFEDERATED SALISH AND KOOTENAI TRIBES’ HISTORY ....................................................................... 3 DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIOECONOMIC DATA ........................................................................................... 8 POPULATION DATA .................................................................................................................................. 8 SOCIOECONOMIC DATA ......................................................................................................................... 11 PHYSICAL SETTING ..................................................................................................................................... 30 CLIMATE ................................................................................................................................................. 31 SOILS ...................................................................................................................................................... 31 MINERALS .............................................................................................................................................. 32 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ................................................................................................................... 32 LAND-BASED CULTURAL RESOURCES .................................................................................................... 33 LAND USE ............................................................................................................................................... 34 LAND OWNERSHIP ................................................................................................................................. 35 INFRASTRUCTURE AND HOUSING ............................................................................................................. 37 WATER/WASTEWATER .......................................................................................................................... 37 IRRIGATION WATER ............................................................................................................................... 38 SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL......................................................................................................................... 38 ELECTRICITY AND ENERGY ..................................................................................................................... 39 COMMUNICATION ................................................................................................................................. 39 EMERGENCY SERVICES/SAFETY ............................................................................................................. 40 HEALTH SERVICES .................................................................................................................................. 43 TRANSPORTATION ................................................................................................................................. 43 EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES ...................................................................................................................... 47 HOUSING ........................................................................................................................................... 48 EXISTING TRIBAL BUSINESSES AND REVENUE-PRODUCING PROGRAMS ................................................ 49 TRIBAL ENTERPRISES .............................................................................................................................. 49 TRIBAL AFFILIATES ................................................................................................................................. 50 TRIBAL GOVERNMENT REVENUE-PRODUCING PROGRAMS .................................................................. 51 EXISTING TRIBAL JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS ........................................................................................... 52 DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOMENT (DHRD) .............................................................. 52 PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT INDIAN PREFERENCE OFFICE ...................................................................... 52 SALISH KOOTENAI COLLEGE ................................................................................................................... 52 CSKT Comprehensive Economic Development Plan/Strategy 2021 Page iii RESOURCES THAT CAN PROVIDE SUPPORT TO TRIBAL MEMBER BUSINESS OWNERS ........................... 53 S&K BUSINESS SERVICES ........................................................................................................................ 53 CSKT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE .............................................................................................. 54 CSKT INDIAN PREFERENCE OFFICE ......................................................................................................... 54 SALISH KOOTENAI COLLEGE (SKC) ......................................................................................................... 54 TRIBAL CREDIT PROGRAM ..................................................................................................................... 54 ECONOMIC TRENDS, RELATIONSHIP TO THE OUTSIDE ECONOMY, AND OTHER ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE FACTORS ....................................................................................................................................... 55 EMERGING OR DECLINING INDUSTRY SECTORS .................................................................................... 55 RELATIONSHIP TO LARGER REGIONAL AND GLOBAL ECONOMIES—ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES ................................................................................................................................................. 58 OTHER FACTORS AFFECTING THE ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF THE RESERVATION ......................... 58 3 ECONOMIC STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS (SWOT) ........................................... 70 STRENGTHS ................................................................................................................................................ 70 PEOPLE, CULTURE, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY .................................................................................... 70 PARTNERSHIPS ....................................................................................................................................... 70 OTHER STRENGTHS ................................................................................................................................ 72 WEAKNESSES OR CHALLENGES ................................................................................................................. 72 BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT .................................................................................................................. 72 OTHER WEAKNESSES OR CHALLENGES 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