The Indigenous Business and Economic Development Summit (IBEDS) was established to support Tribal economic development in Wisconsin and to strengthen the capacity of Tribal leaders, Indigenous-led organizations, and economic development partners to foster entrepreneurship, small business growth, and collaboration. A key focus of the initiative is the development of Small Business Hubs at each reservation that form a network of Indigenous-led business development resources and points of contact.

The Indigenous Business & Economic Development Summit (IBEDS) is rooted in Tribal sovereignty, cultural values, and respect for the unique economic priorities of each Tribal nation. Small Business Hubs represent an emerging investment in long-term economic infrastructure designed to strengthen entrepreneurship, expand access to capital, and build Tribal capacity for sustainable economic growth. Each Small Business hub is shaped by the unique governance, culture, and development goals of the Tribal Nation it serves.

Small Business Hub investments on each reservation are intended to increase opportunity to support foundational economic infrastructure. Tribal governments, entrepreneurs, and Business Development Corporations often face barriers to capital access, technical assistance, business networking, and market opportunities. Investments that strengthen Tribal ecosystems, build local capacity, and support Indigenous-led solutions generate long-term economic benefits while advancing self-determination and sovereignty.

The IBEDS report summarizes input from Wisconsin’s Tribal Nations, lenders, business support organizations, and prominent subject matter experts in Native economic, business, and community development. This report provides practitioner-informed knowledge that can support investment attraction, grant applications, funding proposals, and economic development initiatives for sustainable economic growth for Tribal nations.