Division of Economic Development Attends Inaugural Northern Navajo Agency Council Meeting

President Jonathan Nez – Navajo Times photo

Published April 2, 2019

NEWCOMB, N.M. — The Navajo Nation Division of Economic Development (DED) staff attended the first Northern Agency Council meeting on Saturday following the 2018 elections .Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez delivered his report to the agency’s 20 chapters, emphasizing economic development that keeps Navajo dollars circulating locally. Executive Director of the DED, JT Willie, and the Shiprock Regional Business Development Office (RBDO) addressed inquiries from both delegates and chapter officials throughout the meeting.

President Nez shared economic development goals for the region that include encouraging Navajo people to buy locally, developing opportunities to retrain workers in the energy sector, leveraging Opportunity Zone designations on Navajo to develop new businesses, and updating Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project and US491 plans with economic development goals for those corridors.

President Nez recognized that economic and community development are key to bringing hope back to the Navajo people. The President shared division-level changes that give directors accountability tools, such as the DED’s Nahat’á Plan which tracks goals and objectives with quarterly evaluations.

DED also committed to attend future agency council meetings, and to be present at more chapter meetings across the Navajo Nation. This will help DED better understand local development goals, Director Willie said. Chapters will have more opportunities to provide feedback directly to DED.

JT Willie was selected to lead the DED with his administrative background and experience in supporting Navajo artisans and businesses, President Nez said.

The DED organized the RBDOs within the Small Business Development department to provide technical assistance to entrepreneurs and businesses in establishing a physical presence on the Navajo Nation. RBDOs are located in Ft. Defiance, Chinle, Tuba City, Shiprock, and Crownpoint.