Prior Lake, MN - The people of the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in South Dakota will soon have their own tribal grocery store, complete with fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, and baked goods due in part to an economic development package from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. The SMSC announces a $3 million loan and a $1 million grant to the Rosebud Sioux Tribe for fiscal year 2007 for two economic development projects. The grant and $2.4 million of the loan will help fund construction of a tribally owned, full-service, independent grocery store in the town of Mission. The remaining $600,000 loan balance will be for a wireless broadband project.

The new grocery store will have a deli, bakery, pharmacy, and, most importantly, healthy foods to help combat the diabetes epidemic on the reservation. About 80 jobs will be created for the store which is expected to open in July 2007. Construction is scheduled to begin in December 2006 at the site which is located on U.S. Highway 18/83. Infrastructure such as water, sewer, and parking will lay the groundwork for the store which will anchor future business development opportunities. "Eighty-four percent of our personal income currently leaves the reservation," said Rosebud Sioux Tribe Chief of Staff a nd RST member Michael LaPointe. "We have over 3,300 jobs here and nowhere for the workers to spend their paychecks. This will begin the process of keeping our money here and bringing more jobs in. We're happy we have a chance to develop this store, to add this new service to our community. It means lower prices and higher quality foods for all our people here. It's something we've looked forward to for a long time. We're really grateful for the support of the Shakopee Mdewakanton."

With the SMSC loan the RST will join the trend sweeping the nation using wireless Internet technology. With the RST's entity REDCO Tel as a wireless internet service provider, in the near future a laptop computer practically anywhere on the vast reservation will be able to connect to the internet. With this project they will be able to provide service to those who normally would only be able to use dial up service. Using the latest WiFi technology, tiny transmitters placed atop water towers, which are part of the Mni Wiconi Rural Water System, will send the wireless technology 3-15 miles in any direction.

"It makes sense to use wireless because of the cost effectiveness of the technology versus the traditional wired Internet. There's a tremendous distance between communities here in South Dakota so it makes sense to create an infrastructure here so that we can reach those outlying communities," said MQS Project Manager and RST member Christian "Tuffy" Morrison. "Our focus is to create jobs for tribal members. Our first goal is to create a model here on the reservation and then we can duplicate it on other reservations," he said. Future development may include developing training facilities for workers from other tribes, possibly manufacturing the equipment on the reservation, or even tribally owned cellular phone service.

"Your willingness to assist us in developing our local economy here is most considerably appreciated. I want to again thank your Community for its most gracious support of the Rosebud people. Your willingness to assist us in these projects will have a long-term positive economic impact for our thousands of tribal members," wrote Rosebud Sioux Tribe President Rodney M. Bordeaux.

A member of Oceti Sakowin, The Seven Council Fires of the Dakota/Lakota/Nakota Nation (also known as the Great Sioux Nation), the Rosebud Sioux Tribe (Sicangu) has a large membership spread over a vast area of land. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe received $150,000 in fiscal year 2005, $50,000 in fiscal year 2004, and $40,000 in fiscal year 2002 from the SMSC for energy assistance/LIHEAP.