Babaamaajimowinan (Telling of news in different places)

Twenty-Fourth Annual MAICC Awards Dinner held at Mystic Lake Casino & Hotel - P11

The Minnesota American Indian Chamber of Commerce (MAICC) was incorporated in August 1986 as a non-profit organization and awarded 501(c) (3) tax status in January 1989. The MAICC is one of the oldest continuously running American Indian Chambers of Commerce in the US and the oldest ethnic Chamber in Minnesota.

The Chamber works at a statewide level building mutually beneficial partnerships by facilitating a network of resources for the American Indian businesses, non-profits, professionals, and Tribal communities. MAICC is designed to provide significant change and growth within the Public and Private sector including Governments, Tribal Nations, and Corporate communities by providing networking and information opportunities to its members.

The Chamber exists to create an opportunity for American Indian entrepreneurs to gain economic parity, and to position community members and organizations as advocates for American Indian businesses.

The target population for the Minnesota American Indian Chamber of Commerce (MAICC) activities is the Minnesota Indian community—businesses, organizations, tribes, and community members. American Indians, as a whole, represent one of the top employers in the state. Yet, per capita income for individual American Indian people continues to lag behind the growth of most Minnesotans. Chamber activities directly impact our membership of 160 businesses, over 70% of which are American Indian owned and operated. These businesses employ more than 18,000 people and contribute almost 160 million dollars annually to Minnesota's economy, indirectly affecting the economic well-being of the 55,000 Indians in Minnesota and a significant portion of the non-Indian population.

The Chamber has approximately 160 member businesses, and has been ranked in the top 20 Chambers statewide (Minnesota Business Weekly), with all members dedicated to the goals and objectives of the Chamber.

Over the years, the Minnesota American Indian Chamber of Commerce has worked in partnership with a number of sectors of the community to develop strategic plans for a number of new and expanded efforts to develop economic opportunities across the State of Minnesota.

The Chamber is in a unique position to develop much-needed resources for the businesses, tribes, and organizations in American Indian communities across the state. The Minnesota American Indian Chamber of Commerce is one of the strongest minority chambers of commerce in the state.

Current membership shows over 30% are located in the rural area (outside the 7 county metro area), and 70% are within the 7 county metro area.

Of the total Minnesota population of 4.4 million, over 1.1% (54 thousand) are identified as American Indian, with an additional 1.6% identified as American Indian and one or more other nationalities, resulting in a combined total population of 80 thousand or 2.6% of the total Minnesota population.

Approximately 45% of Minnesota's American Indian population lives in the metro area.

Minneapolis/St. Paul is in the top 20 major urban Indian areas in the United States.

Historically Minnesota's American Indian population was wholly made up of Dakota/Lakota (Sioux) and Ojibwe (Chippewa) peoples. According to the 2000 Census these two Tribes are ranked 5th and 6th in United States American Indian populations.

The projected Minnesota Buying Power for 2003 is 156 billion in the US Economy; American Indians are responsible for over 1 billion dollars in Minnesota Buying Power. Minnesota also has the 13th largest projected American Indian Consumer Market.

American Indians as a whole are the 12th largest employer in Minnesota employing over 85% non-Indians and paying well over 100 million in State and Federal Taxes.

Three of the Top twenty five minority businesses in Minnesota are American Indians, according to the Twin Cities Business Journal Annual Book of Lists. In addition they are also members of the MAICC.

 

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