U.S. Department of Commerce Awards Investment to Create First University Center Technical Assistance Program for Native-American Communities
$75,000 Invested in United Tribes Technical College, North Dakota

Washington, DC - The U.S. Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA) today announced a $75,000 investment in United Tribes Technical College of Bismark, N.D. The investment will create the first University Center, economic development technical assistance program for Native American communities.

"President Bush and I strongly support the innovative research and development that takes place at our nation's colleges and universities. The Department of Commerce is pleased to partner with United Tribes Technical College to improve the business climate and standard of living in Native-American communities," said Commerce Secretary Don Evans.

"I applaud Secretary Evans for advancing our efforts in the implementation of the President's Initiative on Tribal Colleges and Universities. The tribal colleges are most often the nucleus on the reservation -- instilling a sense of community, promoting economic development and taking the leadership role on systemic change in education." said Secretary of Education, Rod Paige.

United Tribes Technical College will serve as a catalyst for economic research and development impacting tribes and tribal entities in the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and Nebraska. The University Center will help Native-American communities enhance their ability to attract private capital investment and lucrative job opportunities.

EDA serves as a venture capital resource to meet the economic development needs of distressed communities throughout the United States. EDA partners with states, units of local government and community nonprofit organizations in economically-distressed areas, regions and communities in order to alleviate conditions of poverty and substantial and persistent unemployment and underemployment.

Additional information on how EDA programs are helping distressed communities create a positive and sustainable economic future can be accessed via the World Wide Web: http://www.doc.gov/eda.