Fort Washakie, WY – The Wind River Development Fund (WRDF) announced today it was awarded a $200,000 grant from the Wells Fargo Invest Native program, including $25,000 to support the Wind River Startup Challenge (WRSC).
The Wind River Development Fund is a Native-led nonprofit and Native Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) located in Fort Washakie, WY. WRDF provides market-competitive loans for small businesses on the Reservation and in Fremont County.
The Wind River Startup Challenge is a new business competition that combines community, capacity, and capital to create thriving Indigenous entrepreneurial ecosystems. Initially funded by a WY EPSCoR Track 1 National Science Foundation grant, WRSC has grown from a subaward to Central Wyoming College to partnership with the UW Office of Research and Economic Development–High Plains American Indian Research Institute and the Wyoming Anticipating Climate Change grant to support programming and nation building on the Wind River Indian Reservation.
Paul F. Huberty is the Executive Director of the Wind River Development Fund. Huberty commented, “We continue to execute on our strategy to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem on the Wind River Reservation and in the region. We have been a partner with the Wind River Startup Challenge for two years and we serve as its fiscal sponsor. We are pleased to support the program with this seed capital as the next logical extension of our relationship. We are also very grateful for the continued support of the Wells Fargo Foundation and their intentional and focused investments in Indian Country.”
“Invest Native is about contributing to and supporting Native-led organizations to build more resilient communities for future generations,” said Tim Rios, Senior Vice President, and Rural Strategy Leader at Wells Fargo. “As a second-year Invest Native grant recipient, the impact that Wind River Development Fund is making to help Native communities build economic stability and independence is clear and we are proud to expand their work.”
To date, the Startup Challenge has supported 20 business ventures led by Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho entrepreneurs. HPAIRI Director Dr. Tarissa Spoonhunter stated, “We are grateful for the partnership and sustainability with Wind River Development Fund for continued growth and support in tribal entrepreneurship to continue nation-building for the Tribes.”
Kyle Trumble leads the Wind River Startup Challenge and he said, “The Wind River Startup Challenge is thrilled to be working with the Wind River Development Fund to support Indigenous entrepreneurs. Seed funding is a critical component of the startup stage and this award has provided us the opportunity to continue to offer this program. As the Wind River Startup Challenge is transitioning from a University of Wyoming/EPSCoR project to a community-based one, this partnership is paramount for our success.”
Applications for the 2025 Startup Challenge will open on January 1 and close on January 31, 2025. Please visit windriverstartupchallenge.com for more information and email windriverstartupchallenge@gmail.com with any questions. Announcements will also be posted on the program’s Facebook page.
Wind River Development Fund is a non-profit, Native Community Development Financial Institution located in Fort Washakie, WY. The mission of the Wind River Development Fund is to provide financial opportunities to stimulate economic development on the Reservation, to promote self-sufficiency, self-determination, and an enhanced quality of life for the Reservation community.