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WIHEDC's second annual conference convenes Native entrepreneurs, tribal leaders, and policymakers to unlock tribal financing solutions, accelerate Indigenous economic innovation, and solve Native housing shortages across the Upper Midwest.
LAC DU FLAMBEAU, Wisc. — When Daniel Doyen launched his construction company four years ago with $2,000 and his late father's tools, traditional banks weren't an option. He found financing through Native-owned Bay Bank that helped him build D&T Construction into a company now working on homes and commercial buildings across the Green Bay area.
Access to capital — the challenge Doyen faced and ultimately solved — will be central to WIHEDC's second annual Housing and Economic Development Conference on Nov. 5-6 at the Lake of the Torches Resort and Casino in Lac du Flambeau. The two-day forum brings together Native entrepreneurs, tribal leaders, housing experts, and policymakers to address capital access, housing shortages, and business growth across the state and the broader Great Lakes region — an expansion from last year’s Wisconsin-focused event.
“We want to expand this into more of a regional presence,” said Fern Orie, CEO of WIHEDC and a member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. WIHEDC expects Native business owners from tribes across Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan to attend.
WIHEDC operates as a collaboration of four Native Community Development Financial Institutions: Cedar Growth, First American Capital Corporation, Wisconsin Native Loan Fund, and Woodland Financial Partners. These Native CDFIs provide capital access and technical assistance to Native entrepreneurs and tribal enterprises that have historically struggled to secure financing through conventional banks.
The conference addresses both immediate business needs and emerging economic opportunities. Sessions will cover clean energy opportunities for tribes, hemp and cannabis initiatives in tribal communities, tribal agricultural development, and the creation of small business hubs on reservations. Breakout sessions for Native business owners include business planning workshops and a pitch contest awarding cash prizes to entrepreneurs.
Between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024, WIHEDC’s member CDFIs dispersed deployed nearly $7.9 million in loans, including $4.4 million in business loans and $1.5 million in housing loans. The lending directly created 38 full-time jobs and retained 217 positions. During that period, WIHEDC served 433 businesses and hosted 1,184 attendees at 153 workshops and events.
Research released at last year's inaugural conference, which drew 160 attendees, documented the economic impact of Native businesses beyond gaming. The study surveyed 177 non-gaming businesses across 64 industries and found they generated $776.8 million in economic output and supported more than 45,000 jobs in Wisconsin during 2023.
Housing will also feature prominently. The Wisconsin Native Homeownership Coalition, led by WIHEDC, will present sessions on addressing housing shortages in Native communities, where overcrowding remains persistent. The coalition is expanding from Wisconsin to other Great Lakes states.
For tribal enterprises looking to diversify beyond gaming or individual entrepreneurs seeking capital and technical support, the conference offers direct access to lenders, technical assistance providers, and peers navigating similar challenges.
The conference is supported by Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, Bay Bank, Native CDFI Network, Oweesta Corporation, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, Associated Bank, Baker Tilly, Wisconsin Department of Administration, Tribal Business News, and others. Additional sponsorship opportunities remain available.
About the Conference: WIHEDC's 2nd Annual Housing and Economic Development Conference takes place November 5-6, 2025, at the Lake of the Torches Resort and Casino in Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin. The conference brings together Native entrepreneurs, tribal leaders, and economic development professionals to address access to capital, housing shortages, and emerging business opportunities in Indian Country. Registration and hotel information is available at www.wihedc.org.