THE LONG-TERM GOAL AND SUPPORTING OBJECTIVES OF THIS PROPOSED PROJECT ARE TO INCREASE RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR TRIBAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH RURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP. THE SHORT-TERM GOAL IS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AMERICAN INDIAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES AS WELL AS UNDERSTAND THE LIMITING FACTORS FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP GROWTH ON AMERICAN INDIAN RESERVATIONS. MANY AMERICAN INDIAN RESERVATIONS FACE EXTREME POVERTY, HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT AND REMOTE AREAS. FOR PROGRAMS AND POLICIES TO BE EFFECTIVE, THEY NEED TO RECOGNIZE THE UNIQUE ISSUES FOR TRIBAL COMMUNITES (I.E. TRUST LAND) AND FIND EFFICIENT METHODS FOR MITIGATING THE EFFECTS OF THESE ISSUES. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO BE CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE. THIS PROJECT WILL ASSESS HOW THE CLIMATE FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN TRIBAL COMMUNITIES AND EXPLORE METHODS THAT CAN FACILITATE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH.NEW MODELS WILL BE DEVELOPED TO FACILITATE AMERICAN INDIANS ABILITY TO FORMULATE THEIR IDEAS FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP INTO BUSINESS PLANS. PROGRAMMING WILL ALSO BE DEVELOPED TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO EXISTING RESOURCES FOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BY AMERICAN INDIANS. IN ADDITION, RESEARCH WILL HIGHLIGHT THE OBSTACLES TO RURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP ON RESERVATIONS AND DEVELOP THE BEST PRACTICES THAT WILL BE USED IN EXTENSION PROGRAMMING TO BOTH ENTREPRENEURS, EXTENSION STAFF, AND TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS. THE PROJECT IS INTEGRATED WITH EXTENSION AND RESEARCH COMPONENTS. AN ADVISORY BOARD WILL PROVIDE INPUT ON PROGRAM NEEDS AND EVALUATE PRELIMINARY RESULTS AND EXTENSION MATERIALS. MATERIALS WILL ALSO BE USED INTERACTIVELY AS PART OF THE DESIGN AND TESTING BEFORE FINAL VERSIONS ARE PUBLISHED.