To enhance the quality of life for all Native people.
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The Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc. (GLITC) shall be a diligent advocate for the advancement and promoton of tribal nations and communities by honoring the seventh-generaton perspective.
Do you need help in determining your tribe’s next
step toward pursuing economic diversity?
Do you have economic development projects that
your tribe would like to pursue?
GLITC’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) program assists member tribes in planning and implementing economic development strategies derived from the tribe’s own comprehensive development planning. GLITC’s EDA program is also charged with developing and updating the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (“CEDS”) for
GLITC’s member tribes
CEDS is a 5-year regional economic development plan required by the U. S Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration of all federally recognized Economic Development Districts (“EDD’s”). The GLITC’s EDD region is comprised of the eleven federally-recognized reservations located in the State of Wisconsin.
The CEDS is designed to bring together the public and private sectors in the creation of an economic roadmap to diversify and strengthen regional and tribal economies.
The CEDS serves as a guide for:
Establishing regional goals and objectives
Developing a regional plan of action
Identifying investment priorities and funding sources
Once projects are identified and prioritized, tribes can seek economic development grants which can be used for the construction of roads, water, sewer, and other publicly-owned infrastructure or development projects needed to create and retain jobs on reservation lands.
GLITC’s EDA program is a resource for its member tribes as they pursue diversification of their respective tribal economies. Through outreach activities, GLITC’s EDA program can help tribes progress toward the attainment of tribal economic development goals, objectives and vision by:
Assisting tribes in developing their strategic plans and identifying projects in accordance with tribal priorities
Assisting in the implementation of the strategic direction and action of the CEDS
Coordinating federal, state and local resources and funds to optimize the implementation of the CEDS action plan
Identifying opportunities for multi-agency involvement as it relates to implementation of the CEDS and tribal priorities
Conducting support and other economic development activities such as grant writing, research, planning, and advisory functions as it relates to implementation of identified development priorities and the CEDS.
Do you want to start your own business? Do you need to improve your money management skills?
The purpose of GLITC’s Small Business Technical Assistance Program is to:
Provide small business training and technical assistance to facilitate Native small business startup
Create and retain jobs through Native small business development
Support Native Americans in becoming more economically independent and financially secure.
Business technical assistance efforts develop sustainable and financially stronger business enterprises. These enterprises create jobs and generate income and investment in communities while attracting and retaining needed community goods and services.
The emphasis of the program is to provide one-on-one technical assistance for individual entrepreneurs.
The program is offered as the first stop for persons interested in beginning or expanding a business and needing assistance.
Every effort is maintained to keep abreast of all programs available to Native American entrepreneurs.
Individuals are connected with other outside resources and agencies as deemed appropriate.
The program provides technical assistance to tribal enterprises and Indian businesses located on the reservation or off the reservation that directly benefit the economy of the reservation to include developing a business and marketing plan; securing development financing; and gaining access
to tribal, state, and federal business assistance and financing.
The program can help you:
Understand entrepreneurial skills and requirements for business readiness
Develop a business plan for a new business or an expansion
Pursue certification as a Native-owned, Minority or Woman-Owned Disadvantaged Business
Provide guidance on acquiring business licenses
Provide assistance in areas such as marketing, management, finance and planning
Acquire knowledge and tools to better manage your money
Understand loans and lenders, utilize credit and improve your credit worthiness
Improve job seeking and interviewing skills and prepare a resume.
Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc. (GLITC) was incorporated in December 1965. It grew out of the Wisconsin Tribal Chairman’s Association that was formed in 1963 partly in response to the Termination of the Menominee Tribe in 1961, and partly as a tool for discussion and collective action by the tribes who were beginning to flex their muscles and require more accountability and respect from state and federal governments.
The strength of GLITC lies in the support that the member tribes give to the organization, the confidence in the leadership of the Board, and the independence of the tribes.
As an organization, we believe in the idea that certain aspects of tribal sovereignty are developed and enhanced through discussion, communication, differing points of view, and respect for each tribe’s way of doing its business.
Even as the tribes have grown their own capacity for identifying and addressing their community needs in their own way, the ability and need of the tribes to communicate and share has become easier and faster through electronic communication.
GLITC continues to have a role in facilitating inter-tribal data gathering and communication as the tribes develop their relationships with the State and with other tribes. Just as the rest of the world, tribes need more and better information about needs and solutions for their communities.
While GLITC started as an organization for mutual assistance and direct services to tribal members just on the reservations in Wisconsin, it now serves and assists tribes across the State and across the Great Lakes region in their quest for a better future.
It is the goal of GLITC’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) program to assist member tribes in planning and implementing their economic development strategies that are derived from the tribe’s own comprehensive development planning.
The EDA program can also assist tribes in identifying and coordinating federal, state, and local resources to optimize the implementation of identified strategies and progression toward attainment of tribal development goals, objectives, and vision.
It is the goal of SBTAP to assist in the development of economic independence and financial security in Native communities throughout the state of Wisconsin.
The SBTAP assists Wisconsin Native American entrepreneurs in leveraging a rural network of tribal, county, state, and small business partners, mentors, and resources to grow their small businesses, which in turn grows the economy of tribal communities that will create, save and retain jobs.
The Small Business Technical Assistance Program is funded by the American Indian Economic Development Technical Assistance Grant and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Business Development Grant. These grants have been continually administered by Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council since 1992.
The CEDS is designed to bring together the public and private sectors in the creation of an economic roadmap to diversify and strengthen regional and tribal economies.
The emphasis of the program is to provide one-on-one technical assistance for individual entrepreneurs. 
