The 𐒻𐓥𐓣𐓥𐓘𐓷𐓣͘ (Ihkihkawi) Microenterprise Development program, a Dreamstarter Incubator project, has provided micro-loans to four Native American business-owners and entrepreneurs in Oklahoma. One was recently awarded to Shannon Duty, of The Summer House in Pawhuska, Oklahoma.
The Summer House in Pawhuska, Oklahoma creates customized items that include cedar boxes, cook paddles, cutting boards and signs.
Co-Owner Shannon Duty stated in her request for a $5,000 Microenterprise Development loan that they would use the funds to purchase a machine that costs $3,500 which would be an upgrade from the machine she has now that can burn/engrave items twice as fast. This machine will allow them to keep up with the high demand they have seen for their product, which has already outpaced what they can produce.
The remaining funds would be used to purchase materials to make inventory to sell.
“Wood isn’t cheap and we want to buy a lot of it, and other items, so we can make items in bulk for sale.”
Shannon has also said they she and her husband and co-owner, Jason, are greatly looking forward to the business courses that are included in the program.
