Left to right: Lakota Fund's David White Bull, Wawokiye Business Institute Small Business Success Coach, Debra and Leonard Martinez of KOLA Campground, and Lakota Fund's Tony Taylor, loan officer.

WOUNDED KNEE - KOLA Campground owners Leonard and Debra Martinez wanted to expand their business of trail rides on horses to include overnight camping with added activities.
Lakota Funds had the opportunity to assist Leonard and Debra with one of our loan products to accomplish their expansion goal.
David White Bull, Lakota Funds Wawokiye Business Institute Success Coach was able to offer technical assistance to develop sources and uses with cash flow projections.
The loan department offered suggestions and then a loan. KOLA campgrounds will include sleeping under the starts in traditional tipis, beds and showers, evening meals of traditional Lakota foods and other activities. This summer the sale of artwork/crafts and the features of the campground will be offered by the Martinez to tourists and tribal members who pass through the Wounded Knee village. To book your camping trip and to obtain more information call Debra and Leonard at 605-441-6187.
Lakota Funds technical assistance and courses are free to entrepreneurs like Leonard and Debra here on the reservation. The free classes offered: Core Four Business Planning, Financial Literacy, and Homebuyers Training just to name a few. Wawokiye Business Institute also has small business success coaches who assist future business owners with resources and technical assistance.
Lakota Funds provides services in five areas: technical assistance, financial literacy, housing, financial capital and market access. Lakota Funds makes micro loans up to $5000, small business up to $25,000, and business expansion loans up to $200,000. The last two categories require the Core Four Course and/or three years of successful business experience. Anyone wanting to start or build a business on the reservation can attend Lakota Funds upcoming meetings/trainings:
Pioneer Credit Counseling Friday May 16, 2008 10:00-11:30 a.m. at the Lakota Funds Trade Center Kyle,
Basic Accounting/Bookkeeping Training will be offered Saturday May 17, 2008 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Lakota Funds Trade Center Kyle.
Free Artist Business Skills Workshop will be Monday May 19 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Lakota Funds Trade Center Kyle, SD pre-register contact David White Bull at Lakota Funds 455-2500 or email dwhitebull@lakotafunds.org.