AGRICULTURE SECRETARY ANNOUNCES NATIVE AMERICAN ASSISTANCE 
                                            Release No. 0321.98

                                                                 
                    Media Contact: Roger Salazar (202) 720-4623
                                         roger.salazar@usda.gov
                    Public Contact: Dan Campbell (202) 720-6483
                                   dcampbel@rurdev.usda.gov
                                                               
                                                               
AGRICULTURE SECRETARY ANNOUNCES NATIVE AMERICAN ASSISTANCE 
                                                                 
     WASHINGTON,  Aug.  5, 1998 -- Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today
announced funding for a series of projects that will help develop new business
and create more jobs on Indian tribal lands in three states, boosting to $44
million the amount of aid USDA has provided to Native American tribes during
the past two fiscal years.  Glickman made the announcement during his address
to a conference, Building Economic Self-Determination in Indian Communities,
being held here Aug. 5 and 6. 

     "The Clinton Administration is taking unprecedented steps to meet the
needs of Native American communities--including creation of businesses that
will in turn create good- paying jobs for Native Americans," Glickman said.  
"USDA is helping Native Americans by providing technical and financial
assistance to develop tribal businesses, building and repairing housing and
community facilities, and helping provide safe drinking water and waste water
disposal."  

     The latest effort involves about $304,000 in Rural Business Enterprise
Grants USDA is providing to help develop or expand Native American-owned
businesses in Wisconsin, Arizona and Minnesota. These projects range from the
purchase of machinery for a new window shade manufacturing plant to the
construction of a modern livestock facility needed to improve marketing
efforts for 450 Indian ranchers.   

     "But we are committed to doing even more," Glickman said.  "We are
examining a variety of ways in which USDA programs might be put to good use in
order to assist tribal communities."

     "USDA is committed to using agency resources such as the Rural Business
Enterprise Grant program to assist Native American communities," said Jill
Long Thompson, USDA under secretary for rural development.  "These grants will
provide technical assistance to Native American business owners and will
increase their level of economic self-sufficiency ."
 
      The conference, sponsored by the White House Office of
Intergovernmental Affairs and Domestic Policy Council, the Departments of
Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services,
Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Justice, State, Labor,
Transportation, the Treasury, the Comptroller of the Currency, the Indian
Health Service, and the Small Business Administration,  is addressing ways to
promote economic development in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.Participants include Federal agency heads, tribal government leaders and
businesses, and Indian entrepreneurs. Industry leaders interested in economic
ventures in Indian communities are also participating.

     The latest USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grants to Native Americans
are:

     Wisconsin -- $24,500 to the Oneida Tribe of Indians to complete a
     feasibility study to identify value-added processing and marketing
     strategies for white corn.  The Oneida Tribe will contract local food
     processor Seymour Canning to provide technical assistance.

     Arizona -- $99,800 to assist approximately 450 Navajo, Zuni, Apache, and
     Hopi livestock producers in the New Lands relocation area of Arizona's
     Navajo Nation improve livestock marketing.  A 100,000-square-foot corral
     facility will be built, including a water system,  electrical wiring for
     outdoor lighting and communications, and a scale and chute setup.
     
     Minnesota -- $180,000 to the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians to
     construct a manufacturing facility for window shades. The money will be
     used to purchase equipment and to contract necessary manufacturing
     expertise.

                                 
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