| Ho-Chunk, Inc.: Press release |
Return To Press Area Contents07.12.11
Ho-Chunk CEO Morgan Honored at White House Event.
Lance Morgan, President & CEO of Ho-Chunk, Inc. at White House Rural Champions of Change Event in Washington, D.C.
Photos courtesy of U.S. Dept. of Agriculture*
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WINNEBAGO, NE – Lance Morgan, President and CEO of Ho-Chunk, Inc. was invited to the White House to take part in a July 6th meeting with President Obama, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the President’s Domestic Policy Adviser Melody Barnes and leaders from rural communities across the country for the White House Rural Champions of Change event.
Morgan was one of 18 people from 15 different states that were asked to share their ideas directly with the Obama Administration about how to strengthen rural communities and promote economic growth. He was chosen because of his demonstrated leadership in working to build and expand upon business development and strengthening the local economy in Dakota and Thurston counties in Nebraska. |
“It was a real honor to meet with President Obama and hear about his commitment to rural America,” stated Morgan. “The Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska has made great strides in developing its community and it is a great example of turning a rural community into a regional economic engine.”
Champions of Change is a White House initiative that recognizes ordinary Americans who are accomplishing extraordinary things in their communities.
Ho-Chunk, Inc. is the award-winning economic development corporation owned by the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. Ho-Chunk, Inc. operates 24 subsidiaries; with operations spanning the U.S. and four foreign countries including offices in Washington, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, New Mexico, California, Louisiana Georgia, Florida and Washington D.C. and operations in Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Afghanistan. Ho-Chunk, Inc. employs over 1,400 people maintaining a diverse business portfolio with enterprises located both on and off the reservation that include information technology, construction, government contracting, green energy, retail, wholesale distribution, marketing, media and transportation.
Under the leadership of Morgan, Ho-Chunk, Inc. has been honored for its visionary economic and community development model for successful Native American economic development by a variety of national organizations including: 2001 Innovations in Government Award, sponsored by Harvard University and the Ford Foundation; 2000 Honoring Nations Award, sponsored by the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development, recognizing excellence in tribal governments; 1999 Effective Economic Development Practices, awarded by the National Congress of American Indians; 2002 Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Entrepreneur Award; and 2002 Minority Business Magazine, Entrepreneurial Spirit Award. Morgan has been honored with the 2003 Distinguished Alumni Speaker, Harvard Law School and most recently Small Business Administration Regional Minority Business Person of the Year for 2010.
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In 2001, Ho-Chunk, Inc. founded Ho-Chunk Community Development Corporation, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit. Together, they have formed a partnership to create a brand new industrial, residential and commercial development on the Winnebago Indian Reservation. Ho-Chunk, Inc. in partnership with Ho-Chunk Community Development Corporation created a new industrial, residential and commercial development on the Winnebago Indian Reservation. Ho-Chunk Village features several privately owned Tribal member new homes, apartment buildings, commercial businesses, an Art Center and formal gardens, a park and bike paths.
A Senior Living Housing project is underway, along with additional infrastructure to complete the development. The Village also features the use of green energy including wind generators in the residential area and solar panel arrays on some of the commercial buildings to reduce overhead.
Ho-Chunk, Inc. makes many diverse contributions to the community and tribal membership including funding for a special Housing Down Payment Assistance Program to assist Tribal members in making home ownership a reality; and together with the Tribe created a $1 Million Housing Stimulus Program for Tribal members.
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Among other contributions Ho-Chunk, Inc. has made in the community was bringing Junior Achievement to reservation schools and providing volunteers to teach classes; the annual Ho-Chunk, Inc. Scholarship program promoting higher education for Native students and providing part-time job opportunities while the students attend school; financial sponsorship for the "Read to Me...I'm Your Future!", pre-school reading program to better prepare students for success in school; and the Ho-Chunk Internship Program which provides Native college students significant business experience in a variety of diverse industries and operations while attending college.
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