The Wind River Development Fund (WRDF) has announced the creation of the Wind River Sage Fund Inc., a new nonprofit corporation focused on spearheading Native-led economic development projects on the Wind River Indian Reservation and across the region, County 10 reports.
The newly formed organization will manage and deploy $36 million from the Recompete grant awarded by the Economic Development Administration and an additional $4 million from outdoor recreation grants granted by the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation.
Paul F. Huberty, Executive Director of WRDF and the newly appointed Executive Director of the Wind River Sage Fund, explained the strategic move.
“We launched the Wind River Sage Fund to drive Native-led economic development projects in the region, while the Wind River Development Fund will stay focused on our market-competitive lending and entrepreneurial programs on the Wind River Indian Reservation,” he said. “This strategy allows our organizations to simultaneously support small business growth and larger-scale economic development while pursuing unique funding opportunities for each mission.”
WRDF and the Wind River Sage Fund will share executive leadership and board members to ensure strategic alignment and strong governance. Roy Brown, an enrolled member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe and a WRDF board member, has been named Chair of the Wind River Sage Fund’s Board of Directors.
“This is an exciting time for the Wind River Reservation when it comes to economic development,” Brown noted. “Board members and staff are eager to partner with organizations and community members to complete these initiatives and bolster our economy to provide more opportunities for our communities to flourish.”
The Wind River Sage Fund is tasked with overseeing 14 projects over the next five years and plans to pursue additional funding opportunities to further its mission. The fund’s long-term vision includes accelerating economic development initiatives throughout Wyoming.
WRDF’s economic development approach is rooted in the Native Sovereignty Model, a framework that strengthens Native sovereignty while fostering economic opportunities for all. The organization’s Recompete grant application, which was one of only six selected nationally from 565 submissions, was based on this innovative model.
WRDF partnered with numerous regional and Tribal entities, including Shoshone and Arapaho Tribal Fish and Game, the Wind River Food Sovereignty Project, the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative, the Eastern Shoshone Tribe, and Central Wyoming College, to create a collaborative strategy for economic growth.
Erika Warren-Yarber, the Chief Operating Officer for both WRDF and the Wind River Sage Fund, emphasized the importance of collaboration.
“Traditionally, reservation-based organizations and entities competed against each other to attract funding for economic development and capacity building,” Warren-Yarber said. “When we focus on collaboration and reciprocity, as opposed to competitiveness and siloed thinking, the possibilities are endless. Supporting each other’s missions and dreams is an incredibly empowering experience.”
With more than $40 million secured in grants for economic development, the Wind River Sage Fund is transitioning from planning to implementation. Huberty expressed optimism about the organization’s future.
“We are rapidly shifting to implementation with 14 projects to manage over the next five years. Longer-term, we see significant opportunities to accelerate economic development in Wyoming,” he said.
