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Tribes seek economic growth
Sunday June 12, 2005
By Ja'Rena Lunsford
The Oklahoman
As many Oklahomans await the first ticket sales for the state lottery, Phil G. Busey
is urging businessmen and women -- specifically American Indians -- to look beyond
gaming for economic development.
Busey, president of The Busey Group of Companies, said gaming is important, but
tribes need to move beyond gaming alone.
"Tribes need to develop self-sustainability," said Busey, who is a member of the
Cherokee Nation and Delaware Tribe.
The Busey Group is a business development and consulting firm in Oklahoma City that
focuses on opportunities for tribal governments and minority-owned businesses. The
company provides a host of resources and affiliates, including Busey Law, The Busey
Resource Group and The Delaware Resource Group, which is focused on helping clients
obtain federal contracts with companies such as Boeing.
Busey said his clients range from information technology companies to construction
businesses. He said the company's ability to assist development in a variety of
areas shows that there are many business opportunities for tribes.
"Native American tribes and Indian businesses have always been in business," said
Margo Gray, president of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Oklahoma. "But
what you always here about is gaming."
Gray said the gaming industry allows tribes to reinvest in other developments.
"Gaming is not an end-all to everything," she said. "It's a beginning to other business
opportunities."
J.D. Colbert, director of Native American Services for Indian-owned Bank2, said
he has seen an increase in the diversity of industries tribes and individuals represent.
"It's amazing the opportunities that tribes have capitalized on," Colbert said.
Colbert said contracting is a one area that tribes are using successfully.
Contracting agreements help businesses facilitate relationships, which can then
help create jobs in rural areas, Busey said.
"There's a need to take large corporate businesses and get them with minority small
businesses," Busey said. And he plans to reach out to veteran- and women-owned businesses
as well.
"There's a lot of good Oklahoma companies that don't have the opportunity to reach
out," he said.
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5721 NW 132nd Street
OKC, OK 73142
Ph: 405.721.7776
Fax: 405.721.7779 |
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