MOHAVE COUNTY – Mohave Community College and the Hualapai Tribal Nation hosted a historic ribbon cutting ceremony for the first Hualapai Business Incubator.
The incubator will assist tribal members who want to open and operate businesses that will serve the residents of the Hualapai Reservation, Route 66 travelers and Grand Canyon Visitors.
The festivities started with a prayer from Hualapai Tribal Member Jorigine Paya. Hualapai Tribal Council Chairperson Sherry J. Parker spoke on the great opportunity this is for the tribe and her experience as an MCC alumnus.
Also present, Mohave County Supervisor for District 1 Travis Lingenfelter and MCC District 1 Board Member Candida Hunter. Hunter shared how MCC helped her finish her degree and said the incubator will help others in many ways.
“MCC gave me the tools and ability to start my college career and I know that it can do that for many of the community members here,” Hunter said. “I’m really excited to see this partnership continue to grow between the Hualapai Tribe and MCC.”
MCC President Dr. Stacy Klippenstein thanked everyone who helped get the incubator up and running.
“On behalf of the faculty, staff and students of Mohave Community College we want to thank you all for this support and getting this business incubation center developed and implemented here in Peach Springs,” Dr. Klippenstein said. “We are so pleased to be here and work with the tribal council and the residents of Peach Springs.”
The incubator will offer office space, technology, one-on-one coaching and services that include business plan development assistance, marketing strategy, budgets, financing and much more. The Small Business Development Center at MCC will support daily services and clients will be eligible for all SBDC funded services.
MCC and the Hualapai Tribe partnered to jointly apply for the federal Native American Business Incubator Program, a grant, through the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs. The total awarded was over $200,000 per year for 2022 to 2025 with an option to renew for an additional every three years.
To learn more about the Hualapai Business Incubator contact Manny Siyuja, Hualapai Business Incubator Manager at msiyuja@mohave.edu or call (928) 757-4305.
The Hualapai Business incubator is located in Peach Springs, AZ (460 Hualapai Way). The ceremony was held Wednesday, April 12. From left to right: Mary Mendola, MCC Director Corporate Training and Business Development, Manny Siyuja, Hualapai Business Incubator Manager, Sherry J Parker, Hualapai Tribal Council Chairperson, Candida Hunter, MCC Board of Governors District 1, Travis Lingenfelter, Mohave County Supervisor District 1, and Dr. Stacy Klippenstein, MCC President.