Ute Mountain Ute Tribe 2025 CEDS

U TE MOUNTAIN U TE TRIBE

COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025

2026

U TE MOUNTAIN U TE TRIBE

COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025

2026

Published by Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Copyright © Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form including posting to the internet, photocopying, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the written permission of the publisher.

Printed in the United States of America.

Let us remember the wisdom they left for us to share, From our music and dance to the way we used to live A shared gift from our Creator above us.

The heart of our land where the river flows freely, And the wind blows through our mountains A woven piece of art of the earth and sky There lives the spirits of our ancient and wise ancestors.

— Kamea (Mia) Clark

From left to right: Tan-nah, Ute woman; Buckskin Charlie, with medal around neck, photographed

by Rose & Hopkins; Pee-a-rat and baby in cradleboard on her back; Ta Wits Nan, wearing beaver stole around his neck, checkered shirt, and “war vest;” c. 1899, Library of Congress.

CO N T E N T S

Summary Background

SWOT Analysis

Executive Summary 11 Background 13 Chairman Heart 14 Bernadette Cuthair 15 Tribal Council 16 Tribal Administration 17 UMUT CEDS Planning Committee 18 UMUT CEDS Production Team 20 Progress and Nuchu: Planning our Vision 23 Regional Economic Conditions, Collaboration and Coordination 27

Strengths and Opportunities

32

Land 32 Proud and Resilient People 44 Arts, Culture and Language 48 Grant Successes 56

Weaknesses and Threats Poverty 58 Housing Shortage/Homelessness 59 Food Insecurity 60 Diabetes 62 Educational Attainment 64 Health Inequities 67 Social and Health Outcome Indicators 68 Broadband Access 70 Transportation 71 Water and Wastewater 72

58

Disaster Resiliency and Recovery What is Economic Resilience?

Process and Approach Infrastructure Initiatives

Evaluation Framework 126 77 80 83

Towéyak (Thank You) 130

Housing 85 Education 91 Broadband 93 Food Sovereignty 94

Strategic Direction and Action Plan Economic Development 98 Nuchu: Planning Our Vision 104 Consulting Partners 106 Funding Partners 107 Facilitation Partners 108 Regional Partners 109 Goals and Objectives 111

TRADITIONAL RECIPES Celia Coyote Cuthair’s Ute Chokecherry Jelly/Jam

12

Flaydina Knight’s Fry Bread

29

Rufina Weeks’ Fry Bread

29

Indian Tacos

29

Blackberry Cornmeal Cobbler

39

Callie May’s Nuchu Granola

46

Ute Onion Gravy

82

Mormon Tea

82

A group of Ute at Garden of the Gods for Shan Kive, 1913.

S U M M A RY B ACKG R O UND

The Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Ancestral Vision and Leadership Guiding Principles have remained the same for many generations:

“To preserve and protect our lands, tribal sovereignty, language, history, culture and the general welfare of the Nuchu.”

Don’t walk behind me; I may not lead.

Don’t walk in front of me; I may not follow.

Walk beside me that we may be as one.

— Ute proverb

10

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

T

he Comprehensive Economic

what capacity-building efforts would best

Development Strategy (CEDS)

serve economic development in the region.

contributes to effective economic development in America’s communities and regions through a place-based, regionally driven economic development planning process. Economic development planning – as implemented through the

From the regulations governing the CEDS (see 13 C.F.R. § 303.7), the following sections must be included in the CEDS document: n Summary Background: A summary

CEDS – is not only a cornerstone of the U.S.

background of the economic

Economic Development Administration’s

conditions of the region;

(EDA) programs, but successfully serves as a means to engage community leaders, leverage the involvement of the private sector and establish a strategic blueprint for regional collaboration. The CEDS provides

n SWOT Analysis: An in-depth analysis of regional strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (commonly known as a “SWOT” analysis);

the capacity-building foundation by which

n Strategic Direction and Action Plan:

the public sector, working in conjunction

The strategic direction and action

with other economic actors (individuals,

plan should build on findings from

firms, industries), creates the environment

the SWOT analysis and incorporate/

for regional economic prosperity.

integrate elements from other region-

Simply put, a CEDS is a strategy-driven plan for regional economic development.

A CEDS is the result of a regionally-owned planning process designed to build capacity and guide the economic prosperity and resiliency of an area or region. It is a key component in establishing and maintaining a robust economic ecosystem by helping to build regional capacity (through hard and soft infrastructure) that contributes to individual, firm and community success. The

al plans (e.g., land use and transportation, workforce development, etc.) where appropriate as determined by the EDD or community/region engaged in development of the CEDS. The action plan should also identify the stakeholder(s) responsible for implementation, timetables, and opportunities for the integrated use of other local, state and federal funds; n Evaluation Framework: Performance

CEDS provides a vehicle for individuals,

measures used to evaluate the

organizations, local governments, institutes

organization’s implementation of the

of learning and private industry to engage in

CEDS and impact on the regional

a meaningful conversation and debate about

economy.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND

11

TRADITIONAL RECIPE

Celia Coyote Cuthair’s Ute Chokecherry Jelly/Jam 4 cups of chokecherry juice (approximately two handfulls of chokecherries — remove pits and mash to a pulp) 2 cups sugar Juice of 1 lemon (optional, as the lemon brings out the flavor of the chokecherries) 1/2 cup water Mash and mix all the ingredients and cook over medium heat for 15-20 minutes. Chokecherries are high in pectin so they will gel on their own. Store in a jar and refrigerate.

12

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

B AC KG R O U N D

he Ute were hunters and gatherers

T

a smaller population of members living

before European occupation.

on the reservation in White Mesa, Utah.

Destruction of this lifestyle began with

The reservation land includes portions of

the introduction of salt, flour and sugar,

New Mexico, but there exists no housing

continued through the massacre of the

infrastructure in that state, nor has the

buffalo, and was solidified as generations of

state recognized the Tribe for internal

Ute children were forced to attend boarding

government purposes.

schools designed to break Indigenous family and community education systems and destroy the Ute language, culture and spiritual ways. This communal trauma also resulted in the devastating loss of traditional farming, harvesting and cooking knowledge, building nearly insurmountable barriers on the road to reclaiming food

In all matters, the Tribe is a sovereign nation and determines its own course of action. The Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Council, subject to all restrictions in the Constitution and by-laws and the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, has the right and powers to oversee the following:

sovereignty and systemically increasing

n Executing contracts and agreements

reliance on processed and prepackaged

n Engaging in business enterprise

foods. The reverberations of these destructive policies are still felt today. Ute children of the Boarding School Era lost their connection to the Ute community and have raised generations of children who feel completely disengaged and without self-identity, making them vulnerable to drug abuse, domestic violence, diabetes and suicide. As a direct result of Indian Boarding School Era policies, in 2022, poverty impacted 42% of UMUT children (more than double the rate in Colorado).

development n Managing tribal real and personal property n Negotiating and agreeing to tribal loans and financial instruments n Enacting and enforcing ordinances to promote public peace, safety and welfare The Tribe is structured as a Federal Corporation that may be used for business purposes in developing financial growth and tribal economy. The fact that the Ute

The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe is a small,

Mountain Ute Reservation lies in different

proud tribe with approximately 2,100

states can add complexity relative to

members living on slightly less than

political dealings; however, the Ute

600,000 acres in Colorado, New Mexico

Mountain Ute Tribe is a sovereign nation

and Utah. The tribal government center

and has an agreeable relationship with the

is located in Towaoc, Colorado, 15 miles

states. All tribal lands are trust lands, and

west of Cortez and nearly 250 miles to

the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Council has

the nearest major city. The majority of the

full authority and jurisdiction regarding all

members live in Towaoc, Colorado, with

issues in the political geography.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND

13

CHAIRMAN MANUEL HEART

M

anuel Heart is a cattle rancher and the current Chairman of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe,

devoted to preserving and protecting 600,000 acres of homelands for 2,100 Weeminuche people. Chairman Heart was re-elected on November 4, 2022, having been elected by the Nuchu people eight times and serving a total of 26 years in various capacities. Chairman Heart is now serving on the Tribal Interior Budget Council, Water Committees for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs and Utah Tribal Leaders. Heart has held other prestigious leadership positions in the National Congress of American Indians, Colorado Commission Indian Affairs, Four Corners Monument, Brunot Commission and Weeminuche Construction Company – where he managed over $500 million in projects. Since 2015, Chairman Heart increased grant funding by 90% through a sevenstep fund development strategy he inspired called Walking in Our Moccasins and has generated more than $157 million in new funding for

broadband, economic development, education, healthcare, housing, renewable energy, social services, transportation and water. In 2019 and 2021 Heart opened doors to the Kwiyagat Community Academy (KCA) for elementary children and Mógúán Behavioral Health Center. In addition, he led the tribe safely through COVID-19 and implemented an aggressive recovery and resiliency plan that includes a grocery store, workforce innovation center and internet service provider to be completed in 2025.

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UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

BERNADETTE CUTHAIR

A

s Planning Director for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and Interim Economic Development Specialist,

Bernadette Cuthair plans major infrastructure projects that will benefit our tribal members. One of her job responsibilities is to administer a five-year Partnership Planning Grant funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) and produce a Comprehensive Economic Strategies Plan (CEDS) that serves as a means to engage community leaders, leverage the involvement of the private sector and establish a strategic blueprint for regional, state and federal collaboration. As such, she was bestowed the responsibility to work with Chairman Heart, Reiner Lomb and Beverly Santicola to design and develop the Tribe’s second Native National Partnership Retreat called Nuchu: Planning Our Vision. That design produced a tribally-driven plan to build capacity and guide the economic prosperity and resiliency of the Tribe and its neighbors. Since a large percentage of UMUT members live in poverty, all eight projects included in this 2025-2026 CEDS and planned at our retreat on August 1-3, 2023 address the following ten root causes of poverty and their unique impact on the members of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and their children: 1) lack of employment opportunities; 2) lack of quality in education and workforce development; 3) unaffordable and unattainable housing; 4) insufficient transportation options; 5) disproportionate health access and outcomes; 6) lack of consistent access to nutritionally adequate and safe foods; 7) inaccessible and unaffordable childcare; 8) unsafe environments; 9) imbalanced outcomes in the criminal justice system; and 10) lack of recognition and access within a community. Projects planned in the retreat are included in the 2025-2026 UMUT CEDS presented here.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND

15

TRIBAL COUNCIL

T

he Ute Mountain Ute Tribe (UMUT) is a federally recognized tribe.

The UMUT tribal constitution was adopted in 1940. The Tribe is

governed by a seven-member elected council, including a Chairman.

One council member represents White Mesa and the other members are elected at-large. The Chairman’s council seat is one of the seven seats elected through popular vote for a three-year term. The position of Vice Chairman is held by an elected Councilman, selected every year by the Chairman. The Tribal Council Treasurer is an elected Councilman voted annually by the Tribal Council members. Current members and officers of Tribal Council are:

Manuel Heart Chairman

manuel.heart@utemountain.org

Selwyn Whiteskunk

Alston Turtle

Darwin Whiteman, Jr.

selwyn.whiteskunk@utemountain.org

alston.turtle@utemountain.org

darwin.whiteman.jr@utemountain.org

Malcolm Lehi

Conrad Jacket

malcolm.lehi@utemountain.org

conrad.jacket@utemountain.org

Vice Chairman

White Mesa Councilman

16

Treasurer

Secretary

Councilman

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

T R I B A L A D M I N I S T R AT I O N

T

he tribal government administration is headed by a Tribal Council-appointed Executive Director, Chief Financial

Officer and Legal Counsel. Government offices and facilities are concentrated in and around the community of Towaoc, although there are some government offices in White Mesa.

The Tribal Administration Department provides administrative support services for tribal members and employees of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. Members of the Executive Leadership Team include:

John Trocheck Executive Director

jtrocheck@utemountain.org

Ronald Scott

Peter Ortego

rscott@utemountain.org

portego@utemountain.org

Chief Financial Officer

SUMMARY BACKGROUND

Legal Counsel

17

UMUT CEDS PLANNING COMMITTEE

Bernadette Cuthair

John Trocheck

Ronald Scott

bcuthair@utemountain.org

jtrocheck@utemountain.org

rscott@utemountain.org

Lee Trabaudo

Dan Porter

James Melvin

ltrabaudo@utemountain.org

dporter@utekca.org

jmelvin@wcaconstruction.com

Planning Director

UMUT Public Works/ Broadband

18

Executive Director

Kwiyagat Community Academy

Chief Financial Officer

Weeminuche Construction Authority

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

Beth Cascaddan

Scott Clow

Patrick Littlebear

Marie Heart

BCascaddan@utemountain.org

sclow@utemountain.org

plittlebear@utemountain.org

mlansing@utemountain.org

Miles Sturdevant

Joe Lopez

Ben Elmore

Jessica Thurman

msturdevant@wcaconstruction.com

jlopez@wcaconstruction.com

belmore@wcaconstruction.com

jthrurman@utemountain.org

Economic Development Director

Weeminuche Construction Authority

SUMMARY BACKGROUND

Environmental Director

Weeminuche Construction Authority

Grants & Contracts Administrator

Weeminuche Construction Authority

Staff Development Coordinator

Economic Development Coordinator

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UMUT CEDS PRODUCTION TEAM

T

he UMUT CEDS Production Team has a reputation for producing award-winning publications. Last year’s CEDS Plan has been described by numerous federal agencies as the “gold standard for Native American

tribes.” The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe 2023-2026 CEDS recently won three international Communicator Awards for Excellence in overall design, photography and strategic storytelling. The Communicator Awards is dedicated to recognizing excellence, effectiveness and innovation across all areas of communication. The Award of Excellence is the highest honor and given to those entrants whose ability to communicate positions them as the best in the field. The Communicator Awards is sanctioned and reviewed by the Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts, an invitation-only group consisting of top-tier professionals from acclaimed media, communications, advertising, creative and marketing firms.

BERNADETTE CUTHAIR

|

PLANNING DIRECTOR

Bernadette Cuthair is an award-winning leader and member of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.

Since 1993 she has held professional roles balancing her demonstrations of strong leadership with a deep interest in serving her community. Her background spans paralegal roles, investment coordination and consulting. Between 2015 and 2023 she managed more than $132 million in community and economic grant projects. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Region 9 Economic Development District, the LaPlata West Water Board and the Southwest Colorado Council of Governments. She has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy as an Indian Energy Champion and received the Dr. Virgilio Licona Community Health Leadership Award from the Colorado Health Foundation.

BEVERLY SANTICOLA

|

UMUT CEDS PRODUCER

Beverly Santicola is an award-winning film producer, social entrepreneur, idea generator, problem solver, program developer, project facilitator, public speaker and grant writing consultant. Over the past ten years Santicola has focused her expertise and energy in the arenas of community development and collaborative partnership building for Native American tribes. She works with a team of professional grant writers that have generated more than $1 billion in grant funding for clients and more than $140 million for the UMUT. She has been nationally recognized for social innovation and leadership excellence by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, as well as Encore.org as a 2010 and 2014 Purpose Prize Fellow.

SARA OVERBY

|

UMUT CEDS CO-WRITER

Sara holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Colorado and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from Oklahoma State University. She worked for the Colorado Health Foundation from 2010 to 2022, where she created multi-million dollar funding initiatives for strategic priorities. She began working with CROPS in 2016 and led the first partnerships between the Colorado Health Foundation and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. Sara currently serves as Executive Director of CROPS — a nonprofit 501(c)(3) that helps the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe in its capacity-building efforts.

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UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

MARC SANTICOLA

|

UMUT CEDS EDITOR

Marc H. Santicola is a retired financial/accounting executive with over 40 years of experience in manufacturing and the energy industry. He held various Controllership and Director of Finance positions with Fortune 500 companies (Schlumberger, Cameron International, Cooper Industries, Smith International) at the corporate, divisional and plant levels working in executive leadership, project management, financial planning, systems implementation, organizational restructuring and divestiture. Marc holds a MBA degree from the University of Pittsburgh and is now working as a consultant with NeoFiber on the Tribe’s $40 million Broadband Initiative.

LEEANN NELSON

|

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

LeeAnn Nelson has been an independent graphic designer since 1992, working for a variety of clients large and small across an array of industries including financial lending institutions, city governments, book and magazine publishers and a variety of non-profit organizations. She holds a degree in journalism from Pepperdine University and before launching her freelance business served as Creative Director for a San Francisco, California based magazine publishing company, producing six magazine titles per month. Her design work has earned accolades from the AJAP Simon Rockower Awards, the Maggie Awards, the Anthem Awards and most recently from the Communicator Awards for the CROPS 2023-2026 CEDS for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.

ANTHONY TWO MOONS

|

PHOTOGRAPHER

Anthony Two Moons is an Indigenous artist and photographer of Arapaho, A:Shiwi and Diné lineages. Following his studies he started his career in New York City as a fashion photographer, and continues today as a photographer and director based in New York and working everywhere. His work has appeared in publications around the world. He is the author of multiple award-winning books, including Growing Ute: Preserving The Language and Culture, volumes 1 & 2, and Wíssiv Káav Tüvüpüa (Ute Mountain Lands). Anthony recognizes the extraordinary privilege and abundance of knowledge he has gained while working with talented individuals throughout his career. As an Indigenous professional photographer and artist, equity plays a vital role in Anthony Two Moons’ work.

AMANDA SHEPLER

|

UMUT GRANT WRITER

Amanda Shepler has more than seventeen years of grant writing experience working full time with a wide variety of clients including tribal governments, school districts, institutes of higher education, charter schools, municipalities, community based agencies and more.

She has personally won more than $100 million in grants and assisted the Santicola & Company team to win over $1 billion in grants. Amanda earned a Master’s Degree in History from Buffalo State College in 2006 and Bachelor of Science in Social Studies Education in 2003. Past work experience includes substitute teacher (2 years); Program Coordinator of Boys and Girls Club (8 years); President of Kiwanis of Tonawanda (2 years); and Board Member for Boys and Girls Club of the Northtowns (2 years).

SUMMARY BACKGROUND

21

Five Ute women, c.1899, Library of Congress.

O N

B E A D I N G ...

Cedar and medicine bags were created most often To carry our belongings and needs.

A woman’s first work of art must be given to an elder.

Our moccasins always took the longest to be made And we used the long winters for it So we could return to dance with them.

— Kamea (Mia) Clark 22

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

PROGRESS AND NUCHU: PLANNING OUR VISION

The Ute (Nuchu) are proud and resilient

In 2021, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe

people. They have an intimate knowledge

established Kwiyagat Community Academy,

of the land and a strong connection to their

the first public school operating within

ancestors. An unbridled spirit and optimism

tribal boundaries since the 1940s,

drive them to address the challenges they

reestablishing local sovereignty over the

face utilizing the assets, resources and

education process and ensuring children

power they have as a community. Societal

will learn the Ute language, traditional

challenges facing the region are serious

skills and Indigenous knowledge in the

and require systems-based responses.

classroom. Kwiyagat Community Academy

To proactively seek partnerships and funding to address deep-rooted economic and social challenges, UMUT hosted the first-ever Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Native National Partnership Retreat in 2015, called Walking in Our Moccasins. It brought state, federal and private funding partners together to understand the comprehensive needs of the Tribe and help refine tribally designed solutions to align with current

offers opportunities for young generations to rediscover and recapture the storied histories of the past; understanding this disappearing cultural knowledge is critical to a prosperous future. Kwiyagat Community Academy is beginning the important work of healing the wounds caused by policies of the Indian Boarding School Era, providing cultural learning opportunities for school children in multi-generational environments.

funding opportunities. Forty funding

Alongside efforts to reclaim educational

partners attended the event, and UMUT

sovereignty, UMUT is working to address

has leveraged their active participation into

the catastrophic impact of the loss of food

more than $150 million in new grants over

sovereignty and the forced dependence

the past nine years.

on highly processed prepackaged foods.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND

23

Presently, there are no stores that sell

is still experiencing the effects of settler

If you have funding opportunities that could help meet the needs of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe please contact:

groceries on the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe

colonization. Although across the United

lands. The entire reservation, including both

States, life expectancy is reported at 78

Towaoc and White Mesa communities, are

years, on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation,

USDA-recognized Food Desert Low Income

the average life expectancy is reported at

and Low Access regions without ready

just 55 years, more than two decades less

Bernadette Cuthair

The nearest grocery store is over 20

Planning Director bcuthair@utemountain.org 970-238-0129

miles away. High rates of intergenerational poverty leave many tribal members without

Beverly Santicola

community without public transportation

Grant Writer bevsanticola@outlook.com 281-224-1443

Beth Cascaddan Economic Development Director BCascaddan@utemountain.org 970-238-0892

access to fresh and healthy food choices.

1

reliable transportation in a rural and remote options. Too often, when individuals secure transportation to a store, the nutritional value of selections is sacrificed for the extended shelf life of processed and packaged options. The community has been working on establishing a locally owned grocery store for several years, and business planning efforts are underway.

than the national average.

As recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic continued to realign priorities and needs, it was time again to meet and coordinate with state, federal and private partners at the Tribe’s second Native National Partnership Retreat, called Nuchu: Planning Our Vision. The event was held in August 2023, with over 50 funding partners in attendance. The two-day event allowed UMUT leadership and tribal members to explain current priorities and potential strategies. Together, the assembled group of tribal representatives, funding partners

With at least 11% of UMUT adults

and consultants brainstormed opportunities

diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes

to sustainably blend need and opportunity

and approximately 36% of children under

while honoring and respecting tribal culture

the age of 14 diagnosed with prediabetic

and traditions. UMUT hopes to generate

conditions, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe

$240 million in new funding over the next five years as a result of this important work.

1

24

www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-access-research-atlas/go-to-the-atlas/

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

Chief Ignacio and his horse in Durango, Colorado, photographed by Frank S. Balster.

O N

H U NTI N G ...

We used to roam most of the earth and build our tipis and wickiups, Hoping for better seasons of food and weather.

Our men to hunt and learn the skills of hunting and language, And gives his first kill to an elder to give thanks.

He takes out the heart of the animal and prays for blessings.

— Kamea (Mia) Clark SUMMARY BACKGROUND

25

In the days we used to live, Wild onions and yucca plants were sources of food.

We boiled leaves and flowers for tea And ashes of them for juice.

Wild chokecherries and buffalo berries were always picked And sourced for a special snack to ease our hunger.

Our sage used for healing and blessings To keep negative energies away and protect us From any harm in our bodies and minds.

For our family is sacred and must be kept safe, We ask for forgiveness, health, and protection at all times.

— Kamea (Mia) Clark

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UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

REGIONAL ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, C O L L A B O R AT I O N A N D C O O R D I N AT I O N

Located in the Four Corners Region of Colorado, Montezuma County residents have a median household income of roughly $50,717. This is more than $22,000 lower than the Colorado statewide median income of $75,231. Members of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe experience an even lower median income of $27,656. Montezuma County’s largest industries by employment are government, health services, retail trade and tourism accommodation.

CONDITIONS

plays a challenging role in recruiting

Montezuma County struggles with some of

businesses to the region and attracting a

the lowest enrollment in high-speed internet

skilled workforce.

services in the state. Tribal communities are particularly impacted, which limits economic opportunities, including participation in remote work, and restricts educational attainment.

Housing on the reservation is constructed and passed on between families, so it does not benefit from typical marketbased values for housing construction. The tribally-owned enterprise, Weeminuche

Increasing its overall isolation, the

Construction Authority, has been able to

community is in a remote corner of

leverage limited grant dollars for housing

Colorado without convenient access to

rehabilitation and construction programs,

major transportation highways, airports or

but overall funding for a large housing

rail lines, which further exacerbates and

development has not been available for the

inhibits economic opportunities.

over 100 families waiting for new housing.

The Four Corners Region is experiencing a

Compounding the previously mentioned

crisis of housing affordability and availability.

economic vulnerabilities, there are social

The cost of living has been historically

and environmental factors, including

low and the population relatively stable in

extreme drought driven by climate change,

southwestern Colorado, but housing costs

drug use and mental health challenges,

skyrocketed during the pandemic due to an

and historic barriers to civic engagement

already restricted housing supply and lack

by tribal members that create additional

of scaled new housing construction. These

challenges to the region’s workforce

conditions were met with buyers seeking

and hope for future business growth and

affordable second homes for recreation and

opportunities.

investment. The lack of housing options

SUMMARY BACKGROUND

27

COLLABORATION AND COORDINATION

recognize and grow culturally aware

The UMUT is currently constructing

and responsive leadership that better

broadband infrastructure across the

understands the historic implications of

reservation and Montezuma County with

mistreatment of Native people. New rising

the support of nearly $40 million in federal

leadership in the area’s county government,

and state funds. A long-term goal of the

school groups, health care organizations

initiative is to create future revenue for

and Region 9 Economic Development

the Tribe through connection leases.

Region has demonstrated an opportunity

With expanded broadband infrastructure,

for improved collaboration and resource

business support services and workforce

sharing that respects the culture and

training are an opportunity to increase

expertise of Native people.

immediate economic opportunities with members of the Tribe.

Left: Four Corners Regional Broadband Expansion, $40 million.

Right: Councilman

The state of Colorado and private funders have been increasing investments in

As an owner of over 550,000 acres of

affordable housing solutions across the

land in Colorado and New Mexico, the

state. With the support of organizations

UMUT has been exploring opportunities to

like the Colorado Health Foundation, the

recruit new businesses to the reservation,

Colorado Division of Housing and the

including potentially constructing a modular

Colorado Housing and Financing Authority,

housing factory, and also drawing tourism

the UMUT has been able to incrementally

dollars utilizing the cultural, historic and

and successfully fundraise several million

natural amenities for outdoor recreation in

dollars to support housing rehabilitation

the region.

to revitalize existing family housing and

The southwest region is starting to

build the groundwork for future housing investment.

Alston Turtle (right) discussing housing needs.

28

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

TRADITIONAL RECIPES

Flaydina Knight’s Fry Bread Makes 6-7 medium-size fry bread

Rufina Weeks’ Fry Bread 2 cups of Red Rose or Blue Bird flour

3 cups flour (cook’s choice)

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 tablespoon baking powder

2 dashes of sea salt (to taste)

1 teaspoon salt

Canola oil

Mix dry ingredients in a bowl.

Slowly add lukewarm water until dry ingredients form into dough.

Cover dough and let sit for 15 minutes.

Prepare frying pan by placing on stove over medium-high heat.

Pour in cooking oil (cook’s choice). Oil is ready when it appears wavy.

While oil is heating, knead dough and form into small balls, then pull until flat and round Fry dough until edge looks brown, then turn over.

Drain excess oil from bread by placing onto a paper towel for a few seconds, then place in bowl to keep warm.

Tip: If cooking outside, make sure to get the fire going before starting on the flour and other ingredients.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND

Mix dry ingredients. Add enough medium-hot water to make a ball, then flatten.

Eyeball how much Canola oil to use and add to a hot iron skillet.

Add dough to skillet and cover.

Flip when browned.

Indian Tacos Brown ground beef.

Mix in a can of pinto beans.

Place on top of a piece of fry bread.

Add cheese, tomato, onion and lettuce.

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S WOT AN A LYSI S

Six Ute Indians on horseback, three holding rifles, one holding branches, photographed by F. M. Steele, c. 1905.

“My grandfather said that this land was the center of the universe.”

— Aldean Ketchum, White Mesa elder, 2023

STRENGTHS AND OPPORTUNITIES LAND Historically, the people of the Ute Nation roamed throughout Colorado, Utah, northern Arizona and New Mexico in a hunter-gatherer society, moving with the seasons for the best hunting and harvesting. In the late 1800s, treaties with the United States forced them to move into southwestern Colorado. Currently there are three Ute tribes — the Northern Ute Tribe in Northeast Utah, the Southern Ute Tribe in Southwestern Colorado and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe (UMUT) in Montezuma County (Towaoc), Colorado, and San Juan County (White Mesa), Utah.

The UMUT people have lived on this land for over 100 years. Today, the homelands for the Weeminuche, or Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, are slightly less than 600,000 acres. The tribal lands are on what’s known as the Colorado Plateau, a high desert area with deep canyons carved through the mesas. Towaoc is located southwest of Mesa Verde National Park and northeast of scenic Monument Valley.

WHITE MESA

TOWAOC

U TA H

ARIZONA

32

COLORADO

NEW MEXICO

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

In addition to the land in Colorado and New Mexico, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe also has a presence in southeastern Utah on allotted trust land. These lands, or allotments, cover 2,597 acres and are located at Allen Canyon and the greater Cottonwood Wash area as well as on White Mesa and in Cross Canyon. Some of the allotments in White Mesa and Allen Canyon are individually owned and some are owned by the Tribe as a whole. The Allen Canyon allotments are located twelve miles west of Blanding, Utah, and adjacent to the Manti La Sal National Forest. The White Mesa allotments are located nine miles south of Blanding, Utah.

The Tribe also holds fee patent title to 41,112 acres of land in Utah and Colorado.

Tribal lands also include the Ute Mountain Tribal Park, which covers approximately 125,000 acres of land along the Mancos River. Hundreds of surface sites, cliff dwellings, petroglyphs and wall paintings of Ancestral Puebloan and Ute cultures are preserved in the park. Native American Ute tour guides provide background information about the people, culture and history who lived in the park lands. National Geographic Traveler chose it as one of “80 World Destinations for Travel in the 21st Century,” one of only nine places selected in the U.S.

SWOT ANALYSIS

33

34

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

National Geographic Traveler chose the Ute Mountain Tribal Park as one of “80 World Destinations for Travel in the 21st Century,” one of only nine places selected in the United States.

SWOT ANALYSIS

35

Topographically, the UMUT Reservation is characterized as a high desert plateau, with the elevation ranging from 4,600 feet along the San Juan River to 9,977 on Ute Peak.

Vegetation ranges from sagebrush shrubs in the lower elevations to ponderosa pine forests in the higher elevations. The reservation includes six vegetation zones, including semidesert grassland, sagebrush savanna, pinyon juniper woodland, mountain, chaparral and ponderosa pine-fir-spruce-aspen. Approximately 3,800 acres of noncommercial timber forests are represented in these vegetation zones. The reservation contains verified or potential habitat for several federally listed species of plants and animals.

Reports indicate that the Ute Mountain Ute land, as late as the 1870s, contained grasses, harvestable as hay in non-wooded areas, with sagebrush sparse or absent. This condition was changed by heavy grazing, in part due to encroachment from non-Indian livestock.

Overgrazing resulted in serious range depletion, with invasion or increase of sagebrush and other undesirable species, the cutting of gullies and arroyos in the lowlands, and severe erosion in the uplands.

Later reductions in livestock numbers have resulted in partial recovery of some reservation and surrounding rangelands. The Livestock Grazing Program within the Natural Resources Department was established to assist tribal member cattlemen in developing and maintaining the best possible herds for their families and profit.

The climate of the Four Corners Region is classified as semiarid and is characterized by low humidity, cold winters and wide variations in seasonal and diurnal temperatures. The region has been in an extreme drought for the majority of the last 20 years. Temperature varies with elevation. The average monthly maximum temperature ranges from 39°F to 86°F, and the average monthly minimum temperature ranges from 18°F to 57°F. The highest and lowest temperatures occur in July and January, respectively. Precipitation also varies with elevation, with average annual precipitation amounts of 8 to 10 inches in the lower elevations of the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation and about 13 inches at Cortez (Butler et al.,

36

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

1995). The 50-year (1948 through 1997) annual precipitation minimum was approximately 5.2 inches at Cortez (1989) and the 50-year maximum was 30.8 inches at Mesa Verde National Park (1957) (EarthInfo, Inc., 2000). Average monthly precipitation varies from 0.65 inch in June to 2.00 inches in August. At the higher elevations, the monthly precipitation totals are relatively constant throughout the year with the exception of the dry season, which occurs in April, May and June. At lower elevations, a relatively drier season occurs from April through June and a relatively wetter season occurs from August through October.

Summer precipitation is characterized by brief and heavy thunderstorms. The snowfall season lasts for seven to eight months, with the heaviest snowfall occurring in December.

UTE MOUNTAIN UTE RESERVATION MONTHLY CLIMATE AVERAGES JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

37°F

41°F

51°F

61°F

71°F

84°F

88°F

85°F

78°F

64°F

51°F

39°F

17°F

21°F

30°F

37°F

45°F

56°F

62°F

60°F

53°F

41°F

30°F

20°F

PRECIPITATION

1.5”

1.4”

1.5”

0.8”

0.9”

0.4”

0.8”

1.0”

1.4”

1.1”

1.1”

1.8”

SNOW DAYS

5

4

3

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

5

TEMPERATURE (high/low)

Source: www.weatherwx.com/climate-averages/co/ute+mountain+indian+reservation.html

SWOT ANALYSIS

37

In the Four Corners Region, rangeland and forest account for roughly 85% of the entire area, and they cover large areas of the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation as well. Primary land uses on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation include housing for tribal members, tribal offices, natural gas, sand and gravel extraction, grazing for tribal livestock and business enterprises that provide jobs for its people including the following:

UTE MOUNTAIN FARM & RANCH

|

www.utemtn.com

The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe’s Farm & Ranch Enterprise is a 7,700-acre productive, modern irrigated agricultural project nestled below the Sleeping Ute Mountain on Ute Mountain Ute Tribe land in the southwest corner of Colorado. As a good steward of the land, the Tribe practices sustainable farming and uses state of the art technology to grow and mill corn without GMOs. The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe’s partnership with Bow & Arrow brand corn products began in 1962 and they’ve been proudly producing high quality products ever since. Bow & Arrow Brand is part of the Ute Mountain Ute Farm & Ranch Enterprise and contributes to the full-time employment of 34 tribal members and other qualified farming experts. The Bow & Arrow brand cornmeal (blue, yellow and white) can be purchased directly from the Tribe at bowandarrowbrand.com and additional recipes can be found on its website. Bolder Blue Corn Tortilla Chips are made from Ute Mountain Ute Tribe’s blue A portion of the

cornmeal and distributed worldwide. Cattle, alfalfa, wheat and more are also raised. Farm &

Farm & Ranch

Ranch has consistently ranked high in both state and national corn yield contests sponsored

7,700 acre

by the National Corn Growers Association. A modern 500,000 bushel storage facility

operation.

enables Farm & Ranch to store and market grains as market situations become favorable.

38

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

TRADITIONAL RECIPE

Blackberry Cornmeal Cobbler Serves 4 2/3 cup Bow & Arrow white cornmeal 2/3 cup whole wheat pastry flour 1 and 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/8 tsp. sea salt 2/3 cup almond milk, unsweetened 1/3 cup pure maple syrup 2 tsp. vanilla 2 cups blackberries, fresh or frozen (one 10 oz. bag) Butter Preheat oven to 350º F. Coat an 8-inch pie pan with butter and set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder and salt.

Add milk, maple syrup and vanilla.

Whisk again, just until thoroughly combined.

Pour mixture into the lightly oiled pan and evenly top with blackberries.

Bake for 45 minutes, or until nicely golden-browned.

Cool for five minutes and then serve.

Visit bowandarrowbrand.com for more recipes.

SWOT ANALYSIS

39

Bags of yellow, blue and white corn meal from corn grown on the reservation.

Ute Mountain Farm & Ranch’s source of irrigation water is the McPhee reservoir, Colorado’s second largest man-made reservoir. Irrigation water travels 40-plus miles in open canals and through siphons to reach the Farm. It then is guided through underground laterals to a total of 109 pivot sprinklers. Because of the elevation difference between the canal and the fields, pressure is developed as it travels to the fields, enabling the use of pivot sprinklers. Modern technology enables Farm & Ranch to monitor all irrigation systems by use of computers and cell phones in real time. Given the increasing and projected drought conditions of the region, water is a precious commodity and the efficient use of this resource is of top priority. Farm & Ranch is currently partnering with the Colorado Department of Agriculture and the Natural Resource Conservation Service in constructing a 10-mile site micro-hydro project.

Excess water pressure produced in the existing irrigation system is Farm & Ranch’s state of the art milling equipment.

captured and used to turn turbines to produce electricity that is used exclusively at the farm and mill facility. Sites one through five have been constructed. Two sites were commissioned last year and three sites are ready for commissioning now. The final five sites are planned for construction in the next 12-18 months.

The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Farm & Ranch Enterprise offers employment opportunities for tribal members and other qualified individuals. The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe’s Farm & Ranch operation significantly contributes to the Tribe’s economy as well as member benefit. For example, Farm & Ranch donates five to eight head of cattle annually for the Bear Dance celebration; contributes over $1.1 million in dividends from cattle; provides an annual garden for tribal members with sweetcorn, vegetables and pumpkins; and provides hay for the Ute Mountain Resource Department and tribal members.

40

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

UTE MOUNTAIN CASINO, HOTEL AND RESORT utemountaincasino.com Ute Mountain Casino Hotel is a property of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. Located in Towaoc, Colorado, it’s the state’s first tribal gaming facility and home of the newest and hottest slots in the Four Corners Region. The casino gaming floor is packed with over 700 slot machines, Vegas-style table games, the best bingo hall in Colorado and a brand-new sportsbook.

Located 20 minutes from the entrance to Mesa Verde National Park and nestled in the shadow of the legendary Sleeping Ute Mountain, the hotel offers Southwestern hospitality, friendly faces, great food and gaming excitement! The hotel at Ute Mountain has 90 comfortable and newly renovated rooms, including full suites, junior suites, spa suites, a swimming pool and a workout facility.

SWOT ANALYSIS

41

WEEMINUCHE CONSTRUCTION AUTHORITY

|

wcaconstruction.com

Weeminuche Construction Authority (Weeminuche) was formed in 1985 by the Tribal Council of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe with the charter to provide employment for tribal members and to generate profits for the Tribe. For decades, Weeminuche was the Tribe’s only construction company, performing vertical and horizontal construction on the reservation. Weeminuche also performed work off-reservation, including the $245 million Animas-La Plata dam project. In 2013, the Tribal Council formed WCA Construction, LLC (WCA) as the enterprise for all construction work to be performed off-reservation. Since 2020, WCA has been certified as an 8(a) firm, Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise and HUB Zone firm. WCA has both a civil and vertical division and is licensed in the Four Corners states. The civil division focuses primarily on water and water delivery projects but also performs road and bridge construction, utility installation, site grading and other civil works. Currently the civil division is building the $45 million first phase of the Arkansas Valley Conduit project for U.S. Bureau of Reclamation as well as several projects for the GCC Low Cover

Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Navajo Division of Water Resources, Montezuma Valley Irrigation,

Crossing

BIA Safety of Dams, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Park Service. The

CM/GC Project in

building division constructs commercial and industrial buildings as well as housing projects

Hesperus, CO — $9 million.

42

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

Left: Animas

on neighboring reservations. Clients include fire districts, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, the

River Trail North

White Mountain Apache Tribe, the Navajo Housing Authority, the City of Cortez and other

Extension Project

various private and municipal owners. In 2024, the Tribal Council formed Ute Mountain

in Durango, CO,

Construction, LLC (UMC) as a second enterprise for off-reservation work. The company is

$8 million.

still being set up, but will also be certified as an 8(a) firm, Indian Small Business Economic

Right: Arkansas

Enterprise and HUB Zone firm in the coming months. Weeminuche continues to operate

Valley Conduit

solely on the Ute Mountain reservation, performing projects for the tribe. Maintenance of

Boone Reach 1

over 250 miles of road, housing rehabilitation, utility installation and construction of new

Project in Pueblo,

homes and commercial buildings make up the core of Weeminuche’s work. In addition

CO, $45 million.

to the infrastructure improvement projects, Weeminuche provides equipment and resources for both Bear Dance and Sun Dance annually.

In addition, Weeminuche operates two commercial gravel pits on the reservation, one in Towaoc and one near the Four Corners Monument.

Aggregates are produced in these pits for Weeminuche’s projects, the Tribe and commercial sales. Collectively, the construction companies generate roughly $20 million in revenue and $1.4 million in profit, 20% of which is distributed to the UMUT. In addition to that, Weeminuche operates at a loss of roughly $1.5 million per year completing projects for the Tribe. Weeminuche gravel pits produce 8,000 tons per year of gravel that is free to tribal members and generates revenue in the form of royalties from gravel production at 7.5% of sales. Overall, the above combines to $1.9 million that the construction enterprises provide to the Tribe annually. Construction employee counts range seasonally from 75 to150 employees. Roughly 50% are UMUT tribal members and 70% overall are Native American. The construction group has a tribal member development program that focuses on providing career development guidance, reviews and detailed development plans. In 2023 alone, 240 training courses were conducted with topics ranging from basic computer skills to project management, leadership and supervision.

SWOT ANALYSIS

43

PROUD AND RESILIENT PEOPLE

The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe are the Weenuche band of the Ute Nation of Indians. The two other bands, the Mouche and the Capote, became the Southern Ute Tribe. The Northern Ute Bands (the Uncompahgre band, the Grand River band, the Yampa band and the Uinta band) are located on the Uinta ­Ouray Reservation near Vernal, Utah. The Ute Indians are distinguished by the Ute language, which is Shoshonean, a branch of the Uto-Aztecan linguistic stock (Garcia and Tripp, 1977). Other Indians in the United States that speak Shoshonean are the Paiute, Goshute, Shoshone and several California tribes.

Chief Sevara [i.e., Severo] and family, c. 1899.

44

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

Uinta Ute warrior and his bride on horseback, photographed by John K. Hillers, northwest Utah, 1874. The bride wears a cotton long-sleeved blouse, over which a geometrically patterned length of fabric is worn over one shoulder. Her groom wears a porcupine quill vest, a loincloth and cartridge belt, and holds a rifle. His arms and legs are painted with linear patterns.

Jose Romero, his wife and a baby in a cradleboard, c. 1899.

If I am in harmony with my family, that’s success.

— Ute proverb

SWOT ANALYSIS

45

TRADITIONAL RECIPE

Callie May’s Nuchu Granola 1 cup pinion nuts 1 cup dried chokecherries with seeds removed 2 cups dried deer meat Cut deer meat into 1/2 inch pieces.

Mix all ingredients together.

Ready to eat as a snack.

46

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

According to the U.S. Census, the population of Towaoc, Colorado 39% Male

in 2020 was 1,140, with 61% female and 39% male; the median resident age was 22.6, in comparison to 36.9 years for the rest of Colorado. The town of White Mesa, Utah is home for just 138 residents and is demographically similar to Towaoc, with local residents being

61% Female

characterized by high degrees of poverty and rural isolation (the nearest city with a population of 50,000 or more is nearly 200 miles away).

Youth under age 18 constitute more than half the resident population at the UMUT Reservation, virtually double the proportion found in most American communities. The number of children and youth tribal members and non-tribal members is 600. The total UMUT population between the two regions is 1,318 (63% of total UMUT membership).

GROWTH OVER TIME In 2010, the population in Towaoc, Colorado, was 932, representing

TOWAOC POPULATION 1,200 1,100 1,000 900 800 2010

a 22% increase over the last ten years. The population of White Mesa

2020

decreased from 228 to 138 people. Total UMUT membership remained fairly stable at 2,100.

WHITE MESA POPULATION

GROWTH PROJECTIONS The overall tribal population on the UMUT Reservation is expected to remain consistent for the foreseeable future. The current blood quantum requirement for tribal membership is 50%. Considerations for lowering the

300 200 100 0 2010

2020

blood quantum requirement for membership have not yet been decided.

SWOT ANALYSIS

47

A R T S , C U LT U R E A N D L A N G U A G E

Group of Ute men and women performing the Bear Dance on the Uintah Reservation, Utah, c. 1900.

The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe people are determined to preserve and protect their culture and language. Two ceremonies have dominated Ute social and religious life: the Bear Dance and the Sun Dance. The former is indigenous to the Ute and was originally held in the spring to coincide with the emergence of the bear from hibernation. The dancing, which was mostly done by couples, propitiated bears to increase hunting and sexual prowess. The theme of rebirth and fertility is pervasive throughout. The Sun Dance was borrowed from the Plains tribes between 1880 and 1890. This ceremony, for men only, is held in mid-summer, and the dancing lasts for four days and nights. The emphasis of the Sun Dance was on individual or community esteem and welfare, and its adoption was symptomatic of the feelings of despair held by the Indians at that time. Participants often hoped for a vision or cures for the sick. Consistent with the emphasis of this ceremony was the fact that dancing was by individuals rather than couples, as was the case with the Bear Dance. Both ceremonies continue to be held by the Ute, although the timing of the Bear Dance tends to be later in the year. The Ute enjoy singing and many songs are specific to the Bear Dance and curing. The style of singing is reminiscent of Plains groups. Singing and dancing for entertainment continue to be important.

48

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

Our traditional ceremonies Beardance and Sundance Was our communication to meet and Introduce our families to one another.

We could never meet due to our traveling, But I’m happy to see you and know your name.

I hope after this harsh winter coming I can see you again.

— Kamea (Mia) Clark

SWOT ANALYSIS

49

Over the past eight years, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe has produced award-winning books, films, language apps and websites. In all, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe has won more than 50 Telly, Anthem and Webby Awards for these productions.

LANGUAGE PRESERVATION PRODUCTS

Ute Online E-Learning nuuwayga.com/

Ute Online Dictionary dictionary.utelanguage.org

Ute Language Google App play.google.com/store/apps/ details?id=org.utelanguage. dictionary

Ute Language Apple App apps.apple.com/us/app/ute-mobiledictionary/id1594696386

50

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

CULTURE AND LANGUAGE BOOKS

Growing Ute I issuu.com/a2moons/docs/ growingute_issuu_1028

Growing Ute II issuu.com/bevsanticola/ docs/growingute2

Land Changes issuu.com/bevsanticola/ docs/wi_ssiv_ka_av_tu_ vu_pu_a_08sept

Ute Mountain Ute Tribe P R O P O S A L

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

Grocery Store Capital Campaign

GROCERY STORE FOOD INCUBATOR

issuu.com/bevsanticola/docs/ cc_14june

CEDS Plan

NUCHU

issuu.com/bevsanticola/docs/ ceds_2022_0601_digital

Planning Our Vision

Retreat Report issuu.com/bevsanticola/docs/umut_ nuchu_report_prf10

Building on the History, Culture, and Resiliency of Ute People

SU M M ARY REP ORT Ute Mountain Ute Tribe “Nuchu: Planning Our Vision” Summary Report

SWOT ANALYSIS

1

51

WEBSITES

Mental Health moguan.life

TIWAHE growingute.org

CROPS centerforruraloutreach.org

52

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

FILMS

“Our Culture is Our Strength” (film) vimeo.com/516856356

“We Are Nuchu” (film) vimeo.com/617401273/6cb4761591

“Escape” (film) www.centerforruraloutreach.org/projects-gallery/ escape-film

“The Strength of Siblings” (film) www.centerforruraloutreach.org/projects-gallery/ the-strength-of-siblings-film

PSAS Suicide PSAs

SWOT ANALYSIS

| vimeo.com/661599488 vimeo.com/661599524

Language PSA

|

Culture PSA

vimeo.com/521216390

|

vimeo.com/624082360/c1bf5dddb3

53

“Ute women have been beading for generations.

Before contact with Europeans, we made beads from seeds, shells and elk teeth. Colorful glass beads traveled from Europe over new trade routes in the 1700s. The new beads inspired an artistic transformation. We worked with beads in geometric and floral patterns and applied these to shirts, dresses and moccasins.”

— Ute Museum, History Colorado, March 2017

54

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

“Beadwork should be touched.

Beadwork should be worn.

Beadwork should be alive.”

— Mariah Cuch, UMUT, 2013 SWOT ANALYSIS

55

GRANT SUCCESSES

TRIBAL REVENUE

The UMUT annual operating budget, approved September 28, 2023, for FY 2024 is $104 million, of which 79% comes from grants and contracts and the balance of 21% comes

79%

from other revenue sources. Revenue from business

Grants & Contracts

enterprises has been lower in recent years following COVID-19 and the severe drought. The Farm & Ranch enterprise was operating at 20% capacity for an extended period. Increasing costs for materials and labor has adversely affected Weeminuche Construction Authority and the Tribe lost significant revenues from gas and oil. Tribal revenues from its business enterprises are expected to increase in

11%

2024-2025.

General Fund

Each revenue source contributes to the Tribe’s ability to function as tribal government. Any increase in revenues

6%

4%

results in an increase in services and improves the quality of

Economic Development Trust Funds

Per Capita Trust Funds

life for tribal members. On the other hand, any decrease in revenues severely limits the Tribe’s ability to provide tribal members with adequate services and social programs, basic living assistance and improved living conditions. Grants and contracts represent the majority of the Tribe’s revenue. The Tribe is listed by the Internal Revenue Services in Revenue Procedure 2002-64 as an organization that may be treated as a governmental entity in accordance with Section 7871. As such, the Tribe’s income is not subject to federal income tax.

56

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

Since 2015, following the first Ute Mountain Ute Native National Partnership Retreat, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe has generated nearly $150 million in new grant funding. The Tribe contracts with Santicola & Company to assist in the development of award-winning proposals.

GRANT AMOUNTS BY ISSUE

|

2015–2023

Behavioral Health

$11,103,000

Broadband

$40,815,971

Culture

$7,362,160

Economic Development

$4,876,200

Education

$24,775,625

Energy

$2,667,497

Grocery Store

$5,096,677

Health

$9,319,064

Housing

$10,166,466

Justice

$8,721,825

Language

$391,750

Roads

$10,897,080

Water

$13,100,000 Total Grants Won

SWOT ANALYSIS

$149,293,315

57

WEAKNESSES A N D T H R E AT S POVERTY One quarter of UMUT residents live below the poverty level and unemployment is more than double the state’s unemployment rate. Nearly one in three children on the UMUT reservation live in poverty. The estimated median household income in Towaoc is $46,466 in comparison to $87,598 in Colorado. The per capita income of $33,498 in White Mesa is about 90 percent of the rest of the state $37,023 and unemployment is more than double the state rate.

AVERAGE PER CAPITA INCOME Towaoc Montezuma County

LIVING BELOW THE POVERTY LINE 30.8%

$13,879 $31,044

Colorado USA

White Mesa San Juan County

12.6% $47,346

9.6% 11.5%

$37,683

$33,498

40.4%

$25,591

22.8%

Utah

$37,023

USA

$37,683

8.2% 11.5%

2022 data from https://censusreporter.org/profiles/16000US0878280-towaoc-co

One in three children on the reservation live in poverty

58

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

H O U S I N G S H O R TAG E S / H O M E L E S S N E S S HOUSING RENOVATION PROJECTS DATE

TIWAHE

CHFA

DOLA

CHF

TOTAL

5/21/2019

$88,763

$88,763

5/21/2019

$30, 910

$30, 910

9/12/2019

$1,238

$1,238

9/12/2019

$68,936

$68,936

9/12/2019

$67,675

$67,675

9/14/2020

$106,950

$106,950

6/29/2021

$144,798

$144,798

6/29/2021

$139,193

$139,193

10/7/2021

$80,933

$80,933

10/7/2021

$25,412

$25,412

10/7/2021 3/7/2022

$3,321

3/7/2022

$2,888

$32,200

$32,200

$22,140

$25,461 $2,888

8/26/2022 10/31/2022

$73,624

$73,624

3/31/2023

$141,074

6/17/2023

$59,929

$141,074 $39.477

9/30/2023 3/13/2024

$35,510

3/20/2024

$24,438

Total

$186,899

$186,899

$ 795,553

$27,899

$127,299

$155,095

$155,095

$177,006

$141,444

$ 360,000

$ 1,676,302

$35,510

$ 280,755

$ 300,000

The housing shortage on UMUT lands is devastating. Families want to live on the reservation to take advantage of tribal benefits, such as proximity to family support systems, and tribal services, such as health care, social services and cultural programs. As of April 14, 2023, there are no properties to buy or rent at any price on the UMUT Reservation. Housing in the communities immediately surrounding UMUT lands are beyond the financial means of tribal members. To solve this challenge, families “double up,” sometimes reaching four separate families living in the same structure. The current list of families awaiting affordable housing opportunities includes applications from 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2013 – families that have been living in unsafe, overcrowded conditions for over a decade. The aging housing stock of the UMUT Reservation further complicates this issue, leaving families in homes with leaking roofs, faulty wiring, broken gutters and plumbing challenges that lead to mold. In 2019, the Colorado Health Foundation, Colorado Housing and Finance Authority and Colorado Department of Local Affairs donated $300,000 each for a total of $900,000 in hopes the tribe could make emergency health and safety repairs to 12 homes at approximately $75,000 per home. The Bureau of Indian Affairs Tiwahe Initiative also granted $734,604 over three years for housing improvements. Twenty homes were renovated for a total of $1.7 million. The average cost per home is $80,000 and some have exceeded $140,000.

SWOT ANALYSIS

59

FOOD INSECURITY

The USDA defines “food desert” as a tract in which at least 100 households are located more than one-half mile from the nearest supermarket and have no vehicle access, or where at least 500 people or 33% of the population live more than 20 miles from the nearest supermarket, regardless of vehicle availability. Both UMUT Reservation communities of Towaoc and White Mesa qualify as food deserts, which the USDA defines as parts of the country with low levels of access to fresh fruit, vegetables and other healthful whole foods, usually in impoverished areas. Tribal residents in Towaoc must travel 20 miles or more to reach the nearest full-service grocery store. This distance is difficult for all tribal members, but particularly devastating for the 32% of residents who utilize SNAP benefits to purchase groceries. The only option for food in Towaoc is the Travel Center, which sells food typical of an interstate truck stop, or the Casino Hotel.

Safeway Walmart

TE D

RIV

E

City Market

Woody’s

25 M

INU

Family Dollar

TOWAOC Ute Mountain Travel Center

UTAH

ARIZONA Beclabito Express

D NUTE 35 MI

Teec Nos Pos Trading Post

RIVE

COLORADO

NEW MEXICO

Shiprock Express City Market Walmart Safeway

60

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

SWOT ANALYSIS

61

DIABETES

One in four tribal members have Type II diabetes

The Center for Disease Control reports Native Americans have a greater chance of having diabetes than any other U.S. racial group.1 The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe serves a Native American population battling obesity, prediabetic conditions and Type II diabetes at rates far greater than any other subpopulation in the nation. Across the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation, obesity impacts entire families and burdens children with unhealthy lifestyle habits before they reach their 10th birthday. Young adults are diagnosed with preventable Type II diabetes before they reach middle age, and elders struggle to self-monitor and maintain healthy A1C levels. Without access to fresh foods and healthy ingredients needed to prevent and address diabetes among the older generations, younger generations do not build the knowledge, skills and habits they need to prevent diabetes, creating an intergenerational

People with diabetes have 2.3 times higher annual medical costs than people without diabetes, with an average of $9,601 in diabetes-related expenses per year.

With 500 tribal members with Type II (diet-related) diabetes:

$9,601 x

per person, per year

members 500 tribal with diabetes

= $4.8M

per year

x

years (avg. lifetime with diabetes)

50

= $240M

t otal in diabetes-related medical care over 50 years

successive pattern that continues to intensify.

The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe reports a life expectancy of 55 years – 20 years fewer than the average American. The 2016 UMUT Community Health Assessment states one in four tribal members have Type II diabetes. Over 70% of adults and 50% of youth are struggling with obesity.

The best practice to prevent and manage Type II diabetes is to maintain a healthy diet. Research shows that grocery stores with abundant fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and low-fat dairy products result in healthier choices for consumers. Diabetes Journal reports that a person diagnosed with diabetes at age 40 will have $211,400 in additional lifetime medical expenses. The estimated lifetime cost of treating and living with diabetes for an individual who has had diabetes for 50 years is $395,000. In 50 years, 500 tribal members with diabetes will spend a collective $197.5 million on treatment alone. This robs the Tribe of collective resources which could be better spent on healthy food, education and higher quality of life.

The root causes of health disparities related to diabetes among the Ute Mountain Ute are complex and intrinsically linked to the history of Native Americans in modern America. Solutions must be equally comprehensive and culturally specific. Devastating health challenges related to widespread obesity, prediabetic conditions and diabetes can be overcome.

1

62

https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/aian-diabetes/index.html

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

In shadows cast by sugar’s sway, Diabetes looms, an unwelcome fray.

Yet through the darkness, light can gleam, With strength and courage, it’s not a dream.

With each sunrise, a chance to fight, To keep blood sugar levels right.

Healthy meals and exercise, they say, Are the allies to keep it at bay.

Monitor, manage, never despair, For in resilience, we find our share Of hope and healing, day by day, Together, we’ll navigate this way.

— Kamea (Mia) Clark

HEALTH DISPARITIES UMUT

MONTEZUMA COUNTY

COLORADO

USA

Obesity Rate

70.0%

22.3%

23.0%

39.8%

Type II Diabetes

25.0%

6.9%

7.4%

10.0%

Life Expectancy

55 Years

77.6 Years

80.2 Years

78.5 Years

SWOT ANALYSIS

63

E D U C AT I O N A L AT TA I N M E N T

In fall 2021, 63% of parents of Native American students indicated they do not believe “all students’ cultures are acknowledged and respected in school.”

On a national scale, Native Americans lag in attainment of higher education. For example, only 16% attain a degree compared with 33% country-wide. Similarly, only 5% of UMUT tribal members have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 35% in the state of Utah and 42% in Colorado. Further, 76% of tribal members have a high school diploma compared to 93% in the state of Utah and 92% in Colorado. Though a substantial number report having attended some college, the graduation rates remain stagnant (SWCAHEC).

At this time, the vast majority of UMUT children are bussed to Montezuma Cortez schools, a journey that can take nearly an hour in each direction. Against all standard measures, Ute students demonstrate a desperate need for culturally aligned educational options.

For generations, traditional public school assessments have shown Ute youth are far behind non-tribal peers in academic performance. The Montezuma Cortez School District RE-1 Report on the Progress of American Indian Students from October 2021 shows the following statistics:

NATIVE AMERICAN CHILDREN COMPRISE…

27%

of all student enrollment

11%

of students in Gifted and Advanced classrooms

36%

of students in Special Education classrooms

50%

of all student suspensions

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF UMUT CHILDREN ■ VERSUS NON-TRIBAL AFFILIATED STUDENTS ■

54% 41% 23%

12% <3% Met reading and writing standards for grades 3 and 5

64

Met math standards for grade 4

30%

17% <3% Students reading at grade level

Met standards in reading and writing

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

Although Montezuma Cortez School District RE-1 offers K-12 education, approximately 33% of UMUT high school students attend various boarding schools around the country, such as Riverside Indian School in Anadarko, Oklahoma, due to suspensions and a need for alternative options.

Students at public schools say they are bullied and treated as second-class citizens. The public school system is primarily interested in “using the tribal students or tribe” as a number to substantiate a need for more grant funding and programs rather than providing real help. Native American students who are failing will often drop out or, in some cases, are actually pushed out, whereby they have little alternative except to pursue GED certificates rather than pursue high school diplomas and must contend with the dropout stigma in pursuit of higher education. Caught in the stigma of low self-esteem, many Indian students continue their downward spiral, applying for entry-level jobs at either the tribal casinos or one of the other enterprises/departments within the Tribe. Individuals and families suffer from the effects of educational under-attainment, extensive drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence and crime. UMUT Tribal Human Resources reports show that tribal workers are too heavily under-educated. Of the 657 tribal members and other Native Americans currently working full-time for the Tribe, approximately 250 have not completed a secondary diploma. Based on temporary worker intake forms, the number of adults lacking a secondary-level diploma in Towaoc is as high as 600. Poor overall academic proficiency levels and extraordinarily low high school graduation rates among UMUT youth are further indicators of this critical lack of college and career-readiness.

As noted, both UMUT tribal communities are highly rural with no nearby population centers that offer college degree or industry certification opportunities. While 2017 survey results show that community members are nearly unanimous (91%) in agreement that some form

There can be little doubt that the current educational system is failing Ute children.

SWOT ANALYSIS

65

80–90%

of high school graduates don’t have the financial means or transportation to attend college

of post-secondary education is essential for personal and/or tribal economic uplift, the lack of public transit and too few personal vehicles (estimated at one operable vehicle for every four work-age adults) make commuting to a college or training center unusually difficult, costly and stressful. Further, 80–90% of high school graduates don’t have the financial means or transportation to attend college. And while the Tribal Council provides fully funded scholarships, many students are emotionally or academically unprepared for it. The distance from the tribal reservation to qualified post-secondary institutions, workforce centers or educational nonprofits are in the range of 25 to 65 miles — with no intermediary services between. The nearest accredited internship program is more than 70 miles away in New Mexico. Even when these facilities are reached, the resources often prove extremely limited in scale or reliability, due to fiscal starvation.

According to a 2015 education-related survey of UMUT tribal residents, 43% say that lacking funds for childcare has prevented their efforts to further their education. The most frequently cited reason from students who drop classes or trainings in Towaoc, according to follow-up calls, is “having to work so we could eat.”

Among adults using Ute Mountain Learning Center resources, 92% of “currently employed” participants reported they were seeking classes to improve their earnings potential and/or job standing (promotability). Fewer than 18% of respondents indicated that they were prepared for collegiate reading (and concomitant critical thinking) and less than 5% were ready for collegiate math.

Distance to Towaoc (miles)

Distance to White Mesa (miles)

Full-Time Enrollment

San Juan College, Farmington, NM

64.3

120

5,112

Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO

61.5

112

3,631

Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, CO

240

198

7,671

Western State Colorado University, Gunnison, CO

214

259

2,023

Adams State University, Alamosa, CO

207

257

2,805

Colorado Mountain College, Glenwood Springs, CO

335

293

3,463

University of Phoenix-Albuquerque, Albuquerque, NM

232

287

2,335

Snow College, Ephriam, UT

321

279

3,224

Colleges & Universities

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UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

H E A LT H I N E Q U I T I E S Approximately 41% of tribal members do not have health insurance. Teen birth rates are among the highest in the nation, and the likelihood of low birth weight is significantly higher than averages for other regions. Teen suicide has reached epidemic levels among the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. In August 2016, just one week into the new school year, the Tribe lost a high school junior — a popular young man with a bright and promising future. In November 2016, the community lost another child to suicide, a young lady just beginning her high school career. In early 2020 there were two completed suicides and five attempts by teen girls and boys. Historically, UMUT sees an average of 2-5 youth suicides per year, but this doesn’t tell the whole story. Reported rates do not consider UMUT youth living offreservation, attempted suicides, drug overdoses or those not ruled an “obvious” suicide.

SWOT ANALYSIS

67

S O C I A L & H E A LT H O U T C O M E I N D I C A T O R S

Towaoc is a Medically Underserved Population (GOV MUP) and is also a designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA). Similarly, White Mesa is also a designated HPSA and MUP (score of 41, ID #03535). According to the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps website (www.countyhealthrankings.org), in terms of overall health outcomes and social and economic factors, both Montezuma County and San Juan County rank poorly in comparison to other counties in their respective states. Key indicators are shown in the table below.

Montezuma County, Colorado, and San Juan County, Utah, report risk factors that are higher than state and national averages across a wide range of indicators. Ute tribal members live Montezuma County, CO

Premature Death (per 100,000 residents)

Nationwide Benchmark

9,079

7,193

5,317

53

39

21

Poor Health

15.0%

14.0%

10.0%

Low Birth Weight

7.3%

6.4%

6.0%

Uninsured

22.0%

23.0%

11.0%

Children in Poverty

26.0%

33.0%

14.0%

Teen Birth Rate (per 100,000 residents)

68

San Juan County, UT

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

in communities where residents are far more likely to be in poor health and to be without health insurance. For those who are insured, coverage doesn’t guarantee access to needed services. Living a long distance from providers, not being able to find providers who accept some insurers’ relatively low reimbursement levels or navigating the system to attain a referral prove challenging to receiving treatment. The alarming concerns surrounding Native American child and adolescent health came into the spotlight upon President Obama’s visit to South Dakota’s Sioux tribe in 2014. The Department of Justice followed up with a report on his findings noting Native children’s unhealthy exposure to violence. This, combined with a toxic collection of pathologies — poverty, unemployment, domestic violence, sexual assault, alcoholism and drug addiction — has seeped into the lives of young people living on the UMUT Reservation. The report was followed by the White House’s 2014 Native Youth Report on the state of education in Indian Country. Combined, the reports reveal trends

Suicide among Native youth is

2.5

times the national rate.

of overwhelming poverty, epidemic suicide, combat-level rates of PTSD and low educational attainment amongst UMUT youth. To exemplify the severity of the issue, suicide is the second leading cause of death for Native youth aged 15-24 and occurs 2.5 times the national rate; 1 in 5 Native youth report having considered suicide.

SWOT ANALYSIS

69

BROADBAND ACCESS

Access to high-speed broadband internet on the UMUT Reservation is limited, at best.

Accessibility issues are similar in both Towaoc and White Mesa. According to data obtained from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 2017, 54.71% of the UMUT reservation does not have access to any providers of broadband internet.

FCC figures show that only 45.29% of the UMUT Reservation has access to one or more broadband providers. No area of the reservation has access to multiple providers.

According to the FCC, the term broadband refers to high-speed internet access that is always on and is faster than the traditional dial-up access. Broadband includes several high-speed transmission technologies such as:

■

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)

■

Cable Modem

■

Fiber

■

Wireless

■

Satellite

■

Broadband over Powerlines (BPL)

It is important to note that in 2015, the FCC, tasked with overseeing the rules that govern the internet, raised the standard for broadband to 25 megabits per second from 4 Mbps, while raising the upload speed to 3 Mbps from 1 Mbps. Using these new standards, no area of the UMUT Reservation has access to high-speed broadband internet. The lack of highspeed internet further exacerbates poverty, health and educational inequities because it limits access to distance learning and telemedicine services.

During COVID-19, UMUT students had to sit in cars in a parking lot to get homework assignments. A Comprehensive Broadband Plan was developed in 2020-2021 and is included in the Disaster Resiliency and Recovery section of this plan.

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UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

T R A N S P O R TAT I O N

Transportation is limited on the reservation, with the main mode of transportation being the personal car and the tribal transit system. The transit system consists of one van run on a fixed five-day schedule and the casino shuttle that delivers riders for employment purposes.

There is no easy way to get to the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe reservation, and no easy way for tribal leaders to get to Denver or Washington, DC, to meet with state and federal legislators and funding partners. In addition, there is no easy way for the Tribe’s 2,100 members to access many vital resources, specialty medical care or educational opportunities. Even travel to the tribes Farm & Ranch Enterprise for employees and residents is more than 20 miles one way on a dirt road.

Towaoc is located in the southwest corner of Colorado, near the Four Corners Monument connecting the four states of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona. The transportation network serving the region is limited due to topographical constraints, sparse population and the distance between urban areas. No interstate highway systems traverse the area; however, several interstate highways connect urban areas that have secondary feeder roads that serve the rural areas. These include Highway 491 north to Cortez and south to Shiprock and Gallup, New Mexico; Highway 160 to Teec Nos Pos, Flagstaff and Phoenix, Arizona; and Colorado Highway 41 to White Mesa and Blanding, Utah. Currently, no major railroad lines serve the region, the nearest being Gallup, New Mexico, 124 miles to the south. Small commercial airports are located in Cortez, Durango and Farmington, with even smaller limited-service airports located in other communities.

SWOT ANALYSIS

71

WAT E R A N D WA S T E WAT E R

The reservation is serviced by several logistically placed sewer lagoons and all wastewater is disposed into these lagoons. Recent expansion of the lagoons has increased service and long-term capabilities of the wastewater program. There were five major main supply breaks in 2016 alone along the 27 miles of pipeline connecting Towaoc to the water treatment facility in Cortez. Because the three water towers/tanks in Towaoc can only store approximately 24 hours’ worth of water, this is a critical health issue on the reservation and served as a spark for an array of large and small-scale water infrastructure improvements.

The area’s water supply from the Dolores River — a tributary of the Colorado River — is affected by overall water shortages resulting from overallocation of water rights and climate

DOL ORE

S RI

change driven drought conditions. The Tribe has principal

VER

water rights to water within Lake Nighthorse, located outside CORTEZ

of Durango, Colorado, but no infrastructure to bring the water DURANGO

TOWAOC

LAKE NIGHTHORSE

UMUT RESERVATION

50 miles west to the reservation.

The people living on the reservation in White Mesa, Utah, have it even worse. On a high-desert bench overlooking Bears Ears National Monument in southeastern Utah, what began as a mill built to break down rock and process natural

uranium ore has become a commercial dumping ground for low-level radioactive wastes from contaminated sites across America and the world.

Haul trucks headed for the mill have splattered radioactive sludge along the route the children of the nearby Ute Mountain Ute Tribe’s White Mesa Reservation community travel

72

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

to school. Plumes of contaminants, including nitrate and chloroform, have been detected in the groundwater beneath the mill. The mill also emits radioactive and toxic air pollutants that can travel off-site, including radon, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide.

For decades, the mill’s unconventional business model — pocketing millions of dollars in exchange for processing and disposing of

The White Mesa

hundreds of millions of pounds of radioactive waste — has flown largely under the public’s

Mill between

radar. Piecing together the public records of these wastes connects the White Mesa Mill to

Blanding and

some of the most infamously contaminated places in the country.

White Mesa

At the recent Nuchu: Planning Our Vision Native National Partnership Retreat, one resident

ponds that span

of White Mesa told over 50 funding partners the story of how the water in White Mesa has

approximately

caused him and his wife serious health problems.

“My health and life expectancy has significantly been adversely impacted by the water in White Mesa and I worry that I won’t live long enough to see my children graduate from high school or dance at their weddings. My wife and I both have lumps on our bodies we never had before. I’ve had two back surgeries recently and need to use a scooter to get around.”

SWOT ANALYSIS

has five tailings

275 acres. Photo courtesy of Tim Peterson/ LightHawk.

73

You must dream of our dance first to participate And we will know it was meant for you.

Our hair holds memories of our life, All the people we meet and everything we’ve ever done.

I pray for your health and happiness And when the day comes I am gone, Cut your hair to take away the bad energy.

Our memories will hold a place in your heart.

— Kamea (Mia) Clark

DISASTER RESILIENCE AND RECOVERY

Left: Portrait of Ute Mountain children, c. 1915, Montezuma Heritage Museum.

Right: Ute boy on watch, c. 1874, photographed by John K. Hillers.

The Growing Dome at Elder Center provides healthy foods.

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UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

W H AT I S E C O N O M I C R E S I L I E N C E ?

At a regional and community level, economic development practitioners are instrumental in building the capacity for economic resilience. These professionals and organizations often become the focal point for postincident coordination, information dissemination and responding to external inquiries, and become lead grant administrators for federally funded recovery initiatives.

In building economic resilience, it is critical for the pre- and postdisruption/incident environment to include steady-state and responsive initiatives. Steady-state initiatives tend to be long-term efforts that seek to bolster the community or region’s ability to withstand or avoid an economic shock (including diversification of the overall economic base). Responsive initiatives include establishing capabilities within the economic development organization to be responsive to the region’s recovery needs following a shock/economic incident.

Examples of steady-state economic resilience initiatives include: ● Engaging in comprehensive community planning to define and

implement a collective vision for resilience; ● Undertaking efforts to broaden an industrial base with

diversification initiatives, including providing stability during downturns that disproportionately impact a single industry; ● Adapting/creating business retention and expansion programs

and encouraging a resilient workforce that can better shift between jobs/industries; ● Ensuring redundancy in telecommunications and broadband

networks to protect commerce and public safety.

Examples of responsive economic resilience initiatives include: ● Conducting pre-disaster recovery planning (defining key

stakeholders/roles/responsibilities); ● Establishing a process for regular communication and updating

of the business community; ● Establishing/using a capability to rapidly contact key local,

regional, state and federal officials to communicate business sector needs.

DISASTER RESILIENCY AND RECOVERY

77

Integrating resilience and diversification into the UMUT Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) should reflect a two-pronged approach:

78

1.

2.

Planning for and implementing resilience through specific goals and actions to bolster the long-term economic durability of the reservation and region

Establishing information networks among various regional stakeholders to encourage active and regular communication between the public, private, education and non-profit sectors to collaborate on existing and potential future challenges

(steady-state)

(responsive)

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

O V E R V I E W O F G OA L S A N D S T R AT E G I E S

As part of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe CEDS, this resilience/diversification strategy is designed to serve as a roadmap to empower the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe to establish goals and objectives, develop and implement a plan of action and utilize resources efficiently to build resilience and economic diversity in the region. There is no silver bullet in this arena.

Resilience and diversification are a series of long-haul strategies to secure success through multiple community initiatives coming together to provide support and balance to one another.

Moving forward, continued community engagement at the local, regional, state and national levels will be critical. The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe is unique to Colorado, the Four Corners Region and the country. The area is steeped in history and generations of traditional families that have created a modest living in a sometimes-brutal natural environment and with few “urban” resources.

While the population of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe is increasing, the life expectancy in this community is just 55 years, compared to the U.S. average of 78 years. Just 4% of residents have attained a bachelor’s degree or higher, less than a fifth of the U.S. average of 32.2%, resulting in significant issues related to the ability to attract and retain businesses and related workforce necessary to support and sustain those businesses.

There is a need to balance continued growth and development that also reflects the unique culture and historic economy of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. In establishing goals and objectives, public input and community opinion has been strongly embedded. The goal of the resilience plan is to ensure that communities are genuinely invested in the process and the outcome and that, because of this, they are prepared to invest both capital and human resources into meeting the needs of their communities through the resilience plan’s outlined goals and objectives.

THE UMUT RESILIENCE/DIVERSIFICATION STRATEGIES ARE INTENDED TO: 1. Foster economic development and opportunity; 2. Maximize effective and strategic development and increase workforce; 3. Increase the size and quality of the workforce; 4. Promote the use of technology in economic development; 5. Increase access to high-speed telecommunications; 6. Balance resources through sound management of development opportunities; 7. Support small business and encourage an entrepreneurial environment.

DISASTER RESILIENCY AND RECOVERY

79

PROCESS AND APPROACH

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION The approach to stakeholder engagement emphasized genuine partnership and collaboration with tribal leaders, tribal members, community partners and subject matter experts, as well as federal, state and private funding partners. Critical questions were asked to reveal potential planning obstacles and opportunities to improve long-term project outcomes.

Building off of the success of the UMUT’s first successful Native National Partnership Retreat in 2015, called Walking in Our Moccasins, which generated over $150 million in funding to implement solutions in eight years, the UMUT hosted its second Native National Partnership Retreat, called Nuchu: Planning Our Vision, in August 2023. Over 20 tribal leaders, 20 community partners and 50 funding agencies participated. The first two days of the retreat were designed for the Tribe and community partners to prioritize projects and prepare high-level plans to present to funding partners on the third day. Eight major priorities were established on the first two days and working groups worked on goals, objectives, estimated budgets and action plans for each project to present to funding partners on the third day. The estimated cost of all eight projects is estimated at $240 million and is expected to be achieved in five years.

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UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

Many of the federal funding partners were impressed with the event and suggested “all tribes should do this” to build funding partnerships, cultural understanding and awareness of the community’s needs and opportunities.

In addition to the Native National Partnership Retreat, we held community engagement events for community and housing master planning. These events occurred in September 2023 and April 2024. Public notices were posted on the UMUT website and social media, as well as the Tribe’s closed-circuit TV, but word of mouth was also a powerful tool.

DISASTER RESILIENCY AND RECOVERY

81

TRADITIONAL RECIPE

Ute Onion Gravy 3 teaspoons of vegetable oil 1/4 cup white flour or corn starch and water mixed into a paste 1/2 cup minced wild onions (desert or mountain onion) 1 to 2 cups of water Note: wild onions (also called desert leeks) are normally picked in the spring. In higher elevations, you can use mountain onions. Onions for the gravy can be either fresh or dried.

Mix all the ingredients in order and keep stirring over heat until desired thickness.

Utes utilize plants and seeds from the earth as a sign of purity and good health.

TRADITIONAL RECIPE

Mormon Tea 2 gallons of water 6 oz. or 10 oz. of Mormon Tea Pick 6 ounces or 10 ounces Mormon Tea from the bush.

Rinse off the tea leaves before use.

Fill a large pot or coffee maker with 2 gallons of water.

Add the Mormon Tea and boil for 20 to 30 minutes.

Serve hot, cold, or at room temperature.

Utes believe Mormon Tea alleviates sexually transmitted diseases, colds and stomach aches — cleansing the digestive system to improve health conditions.

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UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

INFRASTRUCTURE INITIATIVES The following infrastructure initiatives formed our Disaster Resiliency and Recovery Plan and have progressed significantly since our last CEDS report. These projects were prioritized to address the most critical issues on the reservation that are “shovel ready” and can be implemented immediately with completion or partial completion in 12 months. Prioritization factors included the following:

1. Number of jobs created and retained 2. Environmental and sustainability factors 3. Number of people who will benefit from these improvements

1

H OUS I N G

2

E DUCATI O N

3

B ROA D BA N D

4

FOO D SOV E R E I G NT Y

DISASTER RESILIENCY AND RECOVERY

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84

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

I N F R A S T R U C T U R E I N I T I AT I V E # 1

HOUSING There has been a family housing shortage on the UMUT Reservation of approximately 200 homes for over 20 years. The estimated $1 million in funding allocated annually does not keep up with the growing needs of the Tribe. Many of the existing homes are in major disrepair. Multiple generations are living in one household in unsafe and unhealthy living conditions. The Tribe needs an estimated $25 million to build 100 new homes and repair 100 existing homes for its members. In the Disaster Recovery and Resiliency Plan, the Tribe prioritized housing and began aggressively seeking funding to 1) repair homes; 2) construct new homes; and 3) build a housing factory on the reservation. In 2022 to 2023, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe decided to move the Housing Authority (TDHE) to a Housing Department under the Tribal Council and the Executive Director. The table below shows grants awarded (or pending) to build homes in 2024-2025: Funder

Amount

Purpose

HUD

$2,000,000

5 duplexes (10 homes)

HUD

$2,000,000

5-6 single family homes

CHFA

$500,000

Match for 5 duplexes above

CHF

$500,000

Invitation for housing funding in 2024

HUD

$2,000,000

Congressional Directed Spending Request for Sober Living* * Pending but forwarded to Congress to be included in 2024 budget.

This project is ‘shovel ready’ and will create and retain at least 20-50 jobs.

DISASTER RESILIENCY AND RECOVERY

85

A Housing Retreat was conducted in May 2023. The graphical recordings from that retreat are shown below and on the following pages.

86

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

DISASTER RESILIENCY AND RECOVERY

87

88

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

DISASTER RESILIENCY AND RECOVERY

89

REC CENTER & COMMUNITY WELLNESS CENTER WITH SUNDECK

VOLLEYBALL & BASKETBALL COURTS

FUTURE MEDICAL EXPANSION AREA

EXPANDED PARK/ MULTI-USE EVENT SPACE

FUTURE COMBINED ADMIN SPACE

POWOW GROUNDS

VETERANS PARK

MIKE WASH RD

P

P

P

P

SUNSET BLVD

SPRUCE ST

P

P

CULTURAL SPACE/ OUTDOOR CLASSROOM

HEADSTART

FUTURE SKATE PARK EXISTING BIKE PARK

FUTURE HOUSING

N ST

PLAY

COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER WITH SUNDECK

P

K-5

GARDEN

NEW MODULARS

REE CHIEF G

PLAY

GARDEN

PLAY

P

P

6-8

SCHOOL BUS DROP OFF

PLAZA

OUTDOOR CLASSROOM 9-12

GARDEN

~180’ BUFFER

PLAZA

DROP-OFF AREA

P

FUTURE FIELDHOUSE

GARDEN MULTI-USE FIELD

RESTROOMS/ CONCESSIONS

VOLLEYBALL & BASKETBALL COURTS EXISTING ROADS FUTURE ROADS PROPOSED NEW BUILDINGS

FUTURE TRIBAL COLLEGE

EXISTING BUILDINGS TO REMAIN NEAR FUTURE MODULAR BUILDINGS

100’

90

200’

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

I N F R A S T R U C T U R E I N I T I AT I V E # 2

E D U C AT I O N Kwiyagat Community Academy (KCA), a new charter school authorized by the Charter School Institute (CSI) in November 2020 and approved by the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Council in January 2021, opened in August 2021 with 27 kindergarten and first grade students. The opening of KCA marked the first time since the Indian Boarding School era of the 1940s that a public school operated on the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Reservation. The school has a mission to “ensure an educational program where the Nuchu (Ute) culture and language guides the educational experience and is characterized by small class sizes with an interdisciplinary, indigenous and project-based approach that results in high academic expectations and desired character skills, personal wellness and community involvement.”

KCA plans to grow by 15-20 students each year, adding one grade each year, until the school has between 90-120 students by the 2025-26 school year. Plans have been designed to not only build the school, but also construct an entire educational campus.

The project is ‘shovel ready’ and will create a minimum of 50 jobs.

DISASTER RESILIENCY AND RECOVERY

91

PLANNING GRANTS Completed and led to nearly $40M in additional funding • NDN Collective $50,000 • BIA/IEED National Tribal Broadband Initiative $49,800

UTAH

COLORADO

ARIZONA

NEW MEXICO

FIBER TO TOWAOC, CO • Economic Development Administration (EDA) $3.2M — Fiber from Cortez to Towaoc, CO • State of CO Broadband Grant $3.5M — Fiber to all homes, businesses and tribal facilities in Towaoc, CO • Colorado Health Foundation $1.1M — Fiber to all homes, businesses and tribal facilities in Towaoc, CO

EDA — 1 1.5 miles of fiber from Cortez to entrance to Towaoc State of CO/CHF — Fiber built to 424 homes, businesses and tribal facilities within Towaoc

UTAH

COLORADO

ARIZONA

NEW MEXICO

UTAH

COLORADO

ARIZONA

NEW MEXICO

KEY FIBER ROUTES AND ADDITIONAL CONNECTIONS • State of Colorado $9.8M — Fiber construction from Towaoc to the Tribal Visitors Center, and fiber to Mancos Creek, Rodeo Grounds new development and UMCE Building Improvements and Carrier Neutral Location facilities

FIBER TO FOUR CORNERS REGION AND WHITE MESA • National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA) $22M — Fiber expansion in the Four Corners Region, from the Tribal Visitors Center to Teec Nos Pas, Aneth, UT, Farm & Ranch and fiber to all homes, businesses and tribal facilities in White Mesa, UT

92

UTAH

COLORADO

ARIZONA

NEW MEXICO

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

I N F R A S T R U C T U R E I N I T I AT I V E # 3

BROADBAND The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe developed a Broadband Plan and began applying for broadband grants during and following COVID-19. To date, the Tribe has generated over $40 million with the technical assistance of Diane Kruse, CEO of Neo Fiber, Inc. The grants, purpose and maps for the broadband projects are below:

GRANT

PURPOSE

AMOUNT

NDN Collective

Planning grant

$50,000

U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development

Planning grant

$49,800

U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA)

Fiber from Cortez to Towaoc, CO

$3,211,117

State of Colorado Broadband Grant

Fiber to homes in Towaoc, CO

$3,451,171

Colorado Health Foundation (CHF)

Fiber to homes in Towaoc, CO

$1,150,000

State of Colorado, Office of Information Technology

Fiber from Cortez, CO, to UMUT in CO including Mancos Creek, Rodeo Grounds, Tribal Visitors Center, Wireless Implementation and UMCE Building Improvements

$9,818,198

U.S. Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA)

Fiber to White Mesa, UT, Teec Nos Pas, Aneth, Farm & Ranch

$22,727,874

The project is ‘shovel ready’ and will create a minimum of 25 jobs.

DISASTER RESILIENCY AND RECOVERY

93

I N F R A S T R U C T U R E I N I T I AT I V E # 4

FOOD SOVEREIGNTY As a result of COVID-19, when it was challenging for members to access food offreservation, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe began working on a grocery store, workforce innovation center and cultural space. The unique aspect of this project is that the Tribe is utilizing shipping containers in Phase 1 of the construction project and will repurpose them when the facility is expanded and built out in Phase 3 or Phase 4. Preliminary drawings are below.

The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe has won over $5 million in grants for Phase 1 of the project and submitted a request of $2 million to complete Phase 1 with an Indian Community Development Block Grant.

94

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

GRANT

PURPOSE

AMOUNT

CHF

Support for a food and economic incubator hub located on the reservation in Towaoc.

The hub will be a source of healthy food, workforce training and entrepreneurship development, serving as a pathway to building a full-service grocery store. The hub will start and grow Native-run businesses, including a produce stand/grocery, market provision, commercial kitchen, coffee shop, butcher/deli, classroom space and a fabrication lab featuring light manufacturing equipment.

$1,000,000

USDA LFPP

Support the development of a regional and native food supply chain through a feasibility study, implementation plan and pilot project. It will also support the UMUT’s collaboration with producers and food system organizations in the Four Corners Region to source local healthy food for its members.

$198,112

EDA

Develop a shipping container food and economic incubator hub to launch and grow many of the businesses that could later become pillars of the future grocery store.

$2,929,574

FNDI

Establish operations team for the Food and Economic Incubator Hub, hire Food System Coordinator and Program Manager, establish partnerships with food and farm businesses, begin Hub construction and design.

$32,000

Gates 1

Predevelopment planning support for the UMUT grocery store.

$15,000

Gates 2

FEED Towaoc food and economic incubator hub support.

$75,000

USDA CFP

Develop grocery store, launch FEED Business Accelerator and Incubator Program and strengthen community food system in Towaoc, surrounding region and Native country.

$354,528

Harris & Frances

Support the UMUT Food Sovereignty: Grocery Store, Native Food Incubator and Indigenous Agriculture project.

$25,000

Reinvestment Fund

Pre-development for the grocery store, including community engagement, store design and layout, grocery store workforce development program design and architectural designs.

$200,000

USDA RBDG

Funding will support two major business development goals including 1) complete a business plan for grocery store; 2) support organizational development in the form of technical assistance in marketing, store layout and design and supply chain development; 3) conduct site planning and design for grocery store; and 4) conduct site engineering and environmental review for grocery store.

$270,000

TOTAL

$ 5,099,214

The grocery store project is ‘shovel ready’ with $15 million in funding and will create an estimated 40-50 jobs.

DISASTER RESILIENCY AND RECOVERY

95

Ute men in traditional dress on horseback in front of teepees, including Buckskin (third from left), Pe-Ve-Ge (third from right), Nanice (second from right) and Severo (far right), c. 1904, photographed by Frank Gonner.

STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND ACTION PLAN

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

As noted, the town of Towaoc is in Montezuma County, Colorado, while the community of White Mesa is in San Juan County, Utah. A profile of the two counties is below.

SAN JUAN COUNTY, UTAH The economy of San Juan County employs 5,702 people. San Juan County’s economy includes mining, quarrying, oil and gas extraction, agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, arts, entertainment and recreation. The largest areas of employment are in business, management, science and arts (1,850), service occupations (1,267), sales and office work Poverty rate:

22.8% (Utah 9.1%)

(944), natural resources, construction and maintenance (868) and production, transportation and material moving (773). The median household income is $49,690, which is roughly twothirds of the amount in the state of Utah ($74,197).

Poverty rates are 22.8%, which is more than double the rate in the state of Utah (9.1%). The income inequality of San Juan County (measured using the Gini index) is 0.48 which is higher than the state of Utah at 0.43.

98

total land area:

7,819.99 square miles

population density:

1.9 individuals/square mile

population 2010:

14,745

population 2020:

15,295

population growth:

+3.73%

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

MONTEZUMA COUNTY, COLORADO The economy of Montezuma County employs 11,492 people.

Montezuma County’s economy includes mining, quarrying, oil and gas extraction, agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, arts, entertainment and recreation. The largest areas of employment are in business, management, science and arts (3,703), service occupations (2,572), sales and office work (2,554), natural resources, construction and maintenance (1,603) and production, transportation and material moving (1,060). The median household income is $61,377, which is roughly two-thirds of the amount in the state of Colorado ($87,587).

Poverty rates are 12.6%, which is 27% higher than the state of Colorado (9.6%). The income inequality of Montezuma County (measured using the Gini index) is 0.42, which is lower than the state of Colorado at 0.46.

Poverty rate:

12.6% (Colorado 9.6%)

The Southwest Colorado Region is also home to hundreds of nonprofit organizations. Annually, more than 450 tax-exempt organizations in Southwest Colorado file a Form 990 with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This number includes both organizations that are not 501(c)(3) and those with no revenue. Of these, about 180 501(c)(3) nonprofits in the region report annual revenue.

Some organizations had millions in revenue, while others drew in a few hundred dollars. No matter the amount, each revenuereporting organization contributes to the regional economy.

Collectively, these nonprofits have

total land area:

2,029.53 square miles

population density:

12.6 individuals/square mile

population 2010:

25,541

population 2020:

26,266

combined $106,405,627 in

population growth:

+2.84%

revenue last year. Nonprofits in

more than $20 million deposited in local banks and earned a

the region collectively employ more than 1,400 local residents.

STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND ACTION PLAN

99

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

DEMOGRAPHIC COMPARISONS San Juan County, UT

Montezuma County, CO

AGE & GENDER DEMOGRAPHICS Children Under the Age of Five

7.2%

5.4%

Persons Under 18 Years

29.3%

21.6%

Persons 65 Years+

14.9%

22.9%

Male Residents

50.0%

49.3%

Female Residents

50.0%

50.7%

White, not Multiracial

47.8%

82.1%

Black or African American

0.4%

0.5%

American Indian and Alaska Native

49.0%

14.1%

Asian, not Multiracial

0.6%

0.7%

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander

0.1%

0.1%

Two or More Races

2.1%

2.5%

Hispanic or Latino

5.8%

12.6%

White, not Hispanic or Latino

44.3%

72.1%

Foreign-born

0.8%

3.5%

Language Other Than English Spoken at Home

39.3%

12.6%

532

2,082

Persons with a Disability Under 65

12.5%

12.6%

Persons without Health Insurance

22%

23%

High School Graduate or Higher, Age 25 Years+

84.2%

90.2%

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher, Age 25 Years +

17.5%

27.0%

Housing Units, July 2019

6,064

12,422

Owner-Occupied Housing Unit Rate

78.1%

70.6%

Median Value of Owner-Occupied Housing Units

$128,700

$238,200

Median Monthly Owner Costs – With a Mortgage

$1,320

$1,327

Median Monthly Owner Costs – Without a Mortgage

$308

$346

Median Gross Rent

$720

$802

46

27

Households

4,577

10,521

Persons Per Households

3.25

2.47

92.0%

87.5%

ETHNICITY DEMOGRAPHICS

PERSONAL DEMOGRAPHICS

Veterans

HOUSING

Building Permits, 2020

Living in Same House One Year Ago

100

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

San Juan County, UT

Montezuma County, CO

EMPLOYMENT Total Employment 2020

3,004

6,517

100,120

244,776

Total Employment Percent Change 2019-2020

-0.7%

-0.2%

Total Non-Employer Establishments

830

2,403

1,010

2,798

Men-Owned Firms

464

1,549

Women-Owned Firms

320

808

Minority-Owned Firms

198

186

Non-Minority-Owned Firms

771

2,348

Veteran-Owned Firms

69

186

Non-Veteran-Owned Firms

870

2,500

*49037*

*08083*

Percent of Population in Civilian Labor Force, Total Age 16 Years+, 2016-2020

57.7%

56.8%

Percent of Population in Civilian Labor Force, Female Age 16 Years+, 2016-2020

52.7%

23.0%

Total Accommodation and Food Service Sales ($1,000)

65,036

82,231

Total Health Care and Social Assistance Receipts/Revenues ($1,000)

76,029

109,308

Total Manufacturers’ Shipments ($1,000)

0

49,855

Total Merchant Wholesaler Sales ($1,000)

0

72,634

69,740

349,933

21.6

20.1

Median Household Income (in 2020 Dollars)

$4,593

$13,760

Per Capita Income in Past 12 Months (in 2020 Dollars)

$20,088

$26,564

18.6%

12.9%

249

749

Total Annual Payroll 2020 ($1,000)

All Firms

FIPS Code

Total Retail Sales per Capita Mean Travel Time to Work (Minutes)

Persons in Poverty Total Employer Establishments 2020

STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND ACTION PLAN

101

Through its Farm & Ranch Enterprise (FRE), the Tribe currently has

7,640 acres under irrigation.

102

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

TARGET INDUSTRIES & CLUSTERS Deposits of sand and gravel are prolific and widespread throughout the reservation. Gravel is being extracted from several large operating pits for use as an aggregate source on the reservation for tribal road construction. Production from these pits averages about 50,000 cubic yards per year. The Tribe is exploring the feasibility of developing a sand and gravel enterprise that could take advantage of the reserves commercially. Sand, gravel and bentonite reserves offer immediate economic rewards for such a tribal enterprise. However, an inventory of reservation reserves, a management program and a rotation of site use is necessary for planning and monitoring these extractions to protect this valuable resource.

The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe range land resources are significant. Of the 553,008 acres of reservation lands in Colorado and New Mexico, approximately 429,234 acres are classified as range land suitable for livestock and approximately 123,774 acres are considered non-range land (barren land or river wash) or habitat for game only (rough, broken and very steep lands). The fee patent tract lands are defined as mountain ranches and provide summer range for livestock. The White Mesa and Allen Canyon allotments are classified as range land. The actual production value of tribal range lands depends upon climatic condition, soil type, availability of water and management practices.

Agricultural uses of the range land have been traditionally limited on the reservation. With the completion of the Dolores Water Project, water has been delivered to the Ute Mountain Reservation after decades of only sparse ground water availability. Through its Farm & Ranch Enterprise (FRE), the Tribe currently has 7,640 acres under irrigation. This marketoriented agricultural enterprise is one that maximizes successful commercial ventures in addition to providing year-round employment for tribal members. As completed, our state-of-the-art farm features 109 center pivot sprinkler plots, ranging in size from 40 to 140 acres each.

The FRE is always at work testing and experimenting with new crops. Currently, a new sweet corn production facility has been developed, which will allow the FRE to add value to this product and market it directly to retailers. Thus, developing a stronger agricultural product with a higher margin will ensure future income.

STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND ACTION PLAN

103

NUCHU: PLANNING OUR VISION

On August 1-3, 2023, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe conducted its second Native National Partnership Retreat, called Nuchu: Planning Our Vision, modeled after the first retreat in 2015, which produced a community development plan and $140 million in new grants over eight years. Over 90 planning partners attended the CEDS strategic planning retreat in August with 21 tribal leaders (CEDS Planning Team),

HOUSING Rehabilitation, Multi-Family, Single Family, Service Based

GROCERY STORE Workforce Innovation Center

K-16 EDUCATION Kwiyagat Community Academy

HEALTHCARE FACILITY EXPANSION Primary, Vision, Dental, Behavioral Health

104

G OA L 1

Má Nurni Káán (Homes)

$85M

G OA L 2

Nuchu Cultural Center & Market

$14M

G OA L 3

Kwiyagat Community Academy (KCA)

$20M

G OA L 4

Mógúán Health and Wellness Clinic

$40M

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

10 consulting partners, 11 facilitators and 50 funding partners. In the first two days of the retreat, the UMUT leaders that comprise the CEDS Planning Team refined goals and objectives, and on the third day presented the plans to funding partners to help align projects with funding opportunities. The Nuchu Vision is below:

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Housing Factory for Jobs, Housing, Revenue

RENEWABLE ENERGY Solar Energy for Independence, Jobs, and Economic Development

TRANSPORTATION Paving UMU 201 Aneth Road to Farm & Ranch

CORTEZ–TOWAOC WATERMAIN REPLACEMENT Housing and Community Development

G OA L 5

Economic Development (Housing Manufacturing)

G OA L 6

Towaoc Community Solar

$6–11M

G OA L 7

Paving UMU 201 Aneth Road

$41.5M

G OA L 8

Cortez-Towaoc Watermain Replacement

$46M

STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND ACTION PLAN

15M

105

C O N S U LT I N G P A R T N E R S

Richard Fulton

Matt Balka

fulton_r@fortlewis.edu

mbalka@fsa-ag.com

Hillary Fulton

Heather McDaniel

Tim Reinen

Horrocks

Horrocks

Reinen Consulting, LLC

hillary@hopeful.consulting

heather.mcdaniel@horrocks.com

tim@reinenconsulting.com

Colin Daly

Carlos Romo

Fort Lewis College

Souder Miller Associates colin.daly@soudermiller.com

106

FSA Advisory Group

Souder Miller Associates carlos.romo@soudermiller.com

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

F U N D I N G PA R T N E R S ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HEALTH FOUNDATION

Varonica Wagner

Julie Hinkson

AMERICORPS MOUNTAIN REGION

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

varonica.wagner@acf.hhs.gov

Amy Busch

julie@rmhealth.org

Jill Sears

ABusch@cns.gov.

JSears@cns.gov

BIA DIVISION OF ENERGY AND MINERAL DEVELOPMENT

Albert Bond

albert.bond@bia.gov

Kevin Carey

Kevin.Carey@bia.gov

Shayla Hagburg Shayla.Hagburg@ssa.gov

Ivy Heuton

Ivy.Heuton@ssa.gov

STATE OF COLORADO BROADBAND OFFICE

Duane Matt

duane.matt@bia.gov

Kristen Perry

kristen.perry@state.co.us

BIA DIVISION OF WATER AND POWER, SAFETY OF DAMS BRANCH

STATE OF COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL AFFAIRS

Chad Krofta

Jacquelyn Stanton

COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND SOUTHWEST WORKFORCE CENTERS

STATE OF COLORADO DIVISION OF HOUSING

Ray Lucero

Shirley Diaz

COLORADO ENERGY OFFICE

STATE OF COLORADO OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE

chad.krofta@bia.gov

jacquelyn.stanton@state.co.us

ray.lucero@state.co.us

Christine Berg

christine.berg@state.co.us

shirley.diaz@state.co.us

Issamar Pichardo

issamar.pichardo@state.co.us

Jeff Kraft

Greg Thomason

Ida Mae Isaac

jeff.kraft@state.co.us

idamae.isaac@state.co.us

SUBSTANCE ABUSE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE ADMINISTRATION

COLORADO HEALTH FOUNDATION

Traci Pole

Emilie Ellis

EEllis@coloradohealth.org

Khanh Nguyen

knguyen@coloradohealth.org

COLORADO HOUSING AND FINANCE AUTHORITY

Jerilynn Francis jfrancis@chfainfo.com

Chris Lopez

cslopez@chfainfo.com

COLORADO RURAL WORKFORCE CONSORTIUM

Traci.Pole@samhsa.hhs.gov

greg.thomason@state.co.us

Dr. Charles Smith

Charles.Smith@samhsa.hhs.gov

U.S. CENSUS

Kimberly Davis

Kimberly.Ann.Davis@census.gov U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE — FARM SERVICE AGENCY

Brandon Terrazas

Suzie Miller

Brandon.Terrazas@usda.gov

suzie.miller@state.co.us

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE — RURAL DEVELOPMENT

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

Irene Etsitty

Debby Rehn

Robert McElroy

Allison Ruiz

Caleb Seeling cseeling@eda.gov

Trent Thompson tthompson@eda.gov

HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

Cherri Pruitt

allison.ruiz@usda.gov

Amy Mund

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

HUD Cheryl.R.Cozad@hud.gov

robert.mcelroy@usda.gov

Debby.Rehn@usda.gov

amy.mund@usda.gov

cpruitt@hrsa.gov

Cheryl Cozad

irene.etsitty@usda.gov

Lori L. Roget

Lori.L.Roget@hud.gov

INDIAN HEALTH SERVICES

Naomi Azulai

Naomi.Azulai@ihs.gov KEYSTONE POLICY CENTER

Ernest House, Jr. ehouse@keystone.org

NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION REGION 8

Gina Espinosa-Salcedo gina.espinosa-salcedo@dot.gov

STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND ACTION PLAN

Lily Griego

lily.griego@hhs.gov

Amy Horrell

amy.horrell@hhs.gov

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR — EEOC

Patricia McMahon patricia.mcmahon@eeoc.gov U.S. FOREST SERVICE

Sherry Fountain sherry.fountain@usda.gov

Kristin Schmitt

kristin.schmitt@usda.gov

U.S. SENATE

Max Hayes

Helen Katich

Senator Bennet’s Office

Senator Hickenlooper’s Office

max_haynes@bennet.senate.gov

Helen_Katich@hickenlooper. senate.gov

107

FA C I L I TAT I O N PA R T N E R S

Dr. Melita “Chepa” Rank

Center for Rural Outreach & Public Services

Laura Lewis Marchino

Region 9 Economic Development District

Marc Santicola Santicola & Company

cheparank@gmail.com

laura@region9edd.org

Jessica Thurman

Caleb Seeling

Trent Thompson

cseeling@eda.gov

tthompson@eda.gov

Economic Development Coordinator jthrurman@utemountain.org

108

Economic Development Administration

mhsanticola@outlook.com

Economic Development Administration

Naomi Azulai

Indian Health Service Naomi.Azulai@ihs.gov

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

R E G I O N A L PA R T N E R S

The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe is one of the largest employers in Montezuma County. As such, our commitment is to support economic development throughout Southwest Colorado.

UMUT maintains contact with and collaborates with a range of local stakeholders, including:

Montezuma

Southwest Colorado Small

Region 9 Economic Development

County

Business Development Center

District of Southwest Colorado

City

Town

City

of Cortez

of Mancos

of Durango

La Plata

La Plata County Economic

County

Development Alliance

In addition, UMUT collaborates with dozens of other local, regional, statewide and national nonprofits and governmental agencies.

STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND ACTION PLAN

109

BEFORE

110

AFTER

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

1

INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY AND QUALITY OF HOUSING STOCK ON THE UMUT RESERVATION OBJECTIVE

RESPONSIBILITY

TIMELINE

FUNDING AMOUNT/ RESOURCE

1.1

CROPS

By September 30, 2024, complete Comprehensive Master Plan and Housing Plan for Towaoc and White Mesa.

Economic Development

1.2

Economic Development

September 30, 2024

By September 30, 2024, rehabilitate a minimum of seven unsafe and unhealthy homes.

Housing Department

Completed 20 homes (exceeding goal by 13 homes)

$300,000 DOLA

$2,000,000 HUD (CDS)

September 30, 2024 Completed

Planning Department Region 9

$250,000 USDA $250,000 CHFA

Reinen Consulting

Planning Department Tiwahe Initiative WCA

1.3

Economic Development

September 30, 2026

By September 30, 2026, construct at least five multi-family homes (duplexes) for ten families.

Horrocks

Funding from HUD not released as of September 30, 2024

1.4

Economic Development

By September 30, 2025, rehabilitate a minimum of seven unsafe and unhealthy homes.

Housing Department

Housing Department Reinen Consulting WCA

September 30, 2025

$281,000

BIA

$500,000 CHFA

$300,000 CHFA $300,000 CHF

Planning Department Tiwahe Initiative

Pending: $500,000 Bank of Topeka

WCA

$12,800,000 EPA Community Change

1.5

Economic Development

September 30, 2026

By September 30, 2026, construct at least five single family homes for 10-30 members based on two to six people per household.

Horrocks

Funding from HUD not released as of September 30, 2024

1.6

Economic Development

September 30, 2026

By September 30, 2026, construct one Sober Living multi-unit facility to serve five to ten clients returning from substance rehabilitation.

Housing Department

Funding from HUD not released as of September 30, 2024

STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND ACTION PLAN

Housing Department Reinen Consulting WCA

Mógúán Behavioral Health Reinen Consulting

$2,000,000 HUD (CDS) $500,000 CHFA

$2,000,000 HUD (CHS)

WCA

111

112

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

2

IMPROVE ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOODS ON THE UMUT RESERVATION OBJECTIVE

RESPONSIBILITY

TIMELINE

2.1

Economic Development

Pending notice to proceed, begin groundbreaking for Nuchu Cultural Center and Market/Workforce Innovation Center.

Horrocks

Pending notice to proceed for construction.

2.2

Economic Development

By September 30, 2024, complete the business plan and begin construction Phase 1.

Horrocks

2.3

Economic Development

Hire Value Chain Coordinator.

Horrocks

Planning Department Reinen Consulting

Planning Department Reinen Consulting

Planning Department Reinen Consulting

2.4

Economic Development

Pending notice to proceed from EDA, hire 20-30 operational staff.

Horrocks

2.5

Economic Development

Pending notice to proceed from EDA, install shelving and stock inventory.

Horrocks

2.6

Economic Development

Pending notice to proceed from EDA, begin selling fresh foods on the UMUT reservation.

Horrocks

2.7

Economic Development

By September 30, 2025, open Workforce Development Center and Cultural Center.

Horrocks

STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND ACTION PLAN

Planning Department

FUNDING AMOUNT/RESOURCE

$1,000,000

CHF

$822,640

USDA

$2,929,574

EDA

$347,000 Foundations

September 30, 2024

$5,099,214 From Above

Business plan completed.

Waiting for notice to proceed from EDA. Postponed due to lack of funding.

The project is being modified and an update will be provided in the 2026 CEDS.

$5,099,214 From Above

Waiting for notice to proceed from EDA.

$7,000,000 For Phase 1 Completion

Waiting for notice to proceed from EDA.

$7,000,000 For Phase 1 Completion

Waiting for notice to proceed from EDA.

$7,000,000 For Phase 1 Completion

September 30, 2025

$7,000,000 For Phase 1 Completion

Reinen Consulting

Planning Department Reinen Consulting

Planning Department Reinen Consulting

Planning Department Reinen Consulting

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114

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

3

INCREASE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT FOR K-16 STUDENTS OF THE UMUT OBJECTIVE

RESPONSIBILITY

TIMELINE

3.1

KCA Staff

September 30, 2024

By September 30, 2024, identify site location and complete architectural design for Kwiyagat Community Academy.

(KCA).

Tribal Council

Site identified south of existing school.

Schematic design 50% complete.

3.2

KCA Staff

September 30, 2024

By September 30, 2024, complete the fund development plan and business plan.

Tribal Council

Fund development and business plan under development, not complete.

3.3

KCA Staff

By September 30, 2025, begin groundbreaking KCA.

Tribal Council

3.4

KCA Staff

By September 30, 2025, begin construction of KCA school for 100 students.

Tribal Council

3.5

KCA Staff

By September 30, 2025, increase student attendance and decrease suspension rates for K-12 students by 10%.

Tiwahe Initiative

3.6

KCA Staff

By September 30, 2025, increase distance learning opportunities for K-16 students in Towaoc and White Mesa by increasing broadband access.

Tiwahe Initiative

FUNDING AMOUNT/RESOURCE

$20,000,000

TBD

$20,000,000

TBD

September 30, 2025

$20,000,000

TBD

September 30, 2025

$20,000,000

TBD

September 30, 2025

$20,000,000

TBD

September 30, 2025

$22,000,000

NTIA

$9,800,000

State of Colorado

$1,150,000

CHF

$3,400,000

DORA

$3,000,000

EDA

$40,000,000

TBD

Contractors

Broadband Team

3.7

Tribal Council

By September 30, 2025, identify location and complete architectural design for UMUT educational campus for cradle to grave learning.

Planning Department

September 30, 2025

Tiwahe Initiative Higher Education Contractors

STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND ACTION PLAN

115

116

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

4

EXPAND ACCESS TO QUALITY INTEGRATED HEALTHCARE ON THE RESERVATION OBJECTIVE

4.1

By June 30, 2026 determine services, partners and potential renters/service providers to provide primary, vision, dental and behavioral health services.

4.2

RESPONSIBILITY

TIMELINE

Tribal Council AAIHB Planning Department Indian Health Services Mógúán Behavioral Health

June 30, 2026

FUNDING AMOUNT/ RESOURCE

$40,000,000

TBD

Dates adjusted due to lack of funding for IHS expansion.

Tribal Council AAIHB Planning Department Indian Health Services Mógúán Behavioral Health Contractors

September 30, 2025

$40,000,000

TBD

Tribal Council Planning Department Indian Health Services Mógúán Behavioral Health Contractors

September 30, 2026

$40,000,000

TBD

By September 30, 2026, complete the design and engineering.

4.4

Contractors

June 30, 2027

$40,000,000

TBD

Tribal Council Planning Department AAIHB

September 30, 2027

$40,000,000

TBD

Tribal Council AAIHB Planning Department Indian Health Services Mógúán Behavioral Health USDA Grant Consultants Financial Experts by CHF

September 30, 2027

$40,000,000

TBD

Indian Health Services

September 30, 2028

$40,000,000

TBD

Mógúán Behavioral Health

September 30, 2028

$40,000,000

TBD

Indian Health Services

September 30, 2028

$40,000,000

TBD

By September 30, 2025, confirm site location.

4.3

By June 30, 2027, begin construction.

4.5

By September 30, 2027, pursue 638 designation.

4.6

By September 30, 2027, secure sustainability through grant writing, third party billing and other revenue streams.

4.7

By September 30, 2028, open dialysis clinic.

4.8

By September 30, 2028, relocate Mógúán Behavioral Health for expansion.

4.9

By September 30, 2028, relocate Indian Health Services, diabetes, and other service providers.

STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND ACTION PLAN

117

118

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

5

INCREASE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CREATE HIGH PAYING JOBS FOR MEMBERS OF THE UMUT OBJECTIVE

RESPONSIBILITY

TIMELINE

FUNDING AMOUNT/ RESOURCE

TBD

5.1

CHF

September 30, 2024

By September 30, 2024, explore housing factory options for building a facility on UMUT lands to create 50100 jobs.

CHFA

On August 27, 2024 Mod Squad Colorado Health Foundation presented to Tribal Council and proposed a feasibility study for a housing factory. CHF will pay for the study. Awaiting Tribal Council approval for study.

Economic Development Financial Consultants Housing Director Planning Director Reinen Consulting Tribal Council WCA

5.2

Economic Development

September 30, 2024

By September 30, 2024, explore renewable energy production facility options on UMUT lands to create 2550 jobs.

Environmental Director

Solar energy production facility project is in exploration and will provide temporary and permanent jobs.

5.3

Economic Development

September 30, 2024

By September 30, 2024, explore broadband economic development opportunities on UMUT lands to create 10-100 jobs.

Financial Consultants

UMCE

Over $40 million in grant funding has been awarded to the UMUT for broadband, and the broadband project is in the implementation/ construction phase.

Ute Mountain Communications Enterprises is a new business enterprise that has resulted from the broadband success.

5.4

CROPS

September 30, 2025

By September 30, 2025, begin development of at least one new economic development investment to create a minimum of 25 -50 jobs.

Economic Development

STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND ACTION PLAN

Financial Consultants Planning Director Tribal Council

TBD

WCA

Neo Fiber Planning Director Tribal Council

TBD

TBD

Financial Consultants Planning Director Region 9 Tribal Council WCA

119

120

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

6

EXPAND RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS ON THE RESERVATION OBJECTIVE

RESPONSIBILITY

TIMELINE

FUNDING AMOUNT/RESOURCE

6.1

Economic Development

By September 30, 2024, select location and complete predesign of solar plant operations to include EA, NEPA, PER and estimated costs.

Environmental Director

September 30, 2024

$6,000,000–$11,000,000 TBD

6.2

Economic Development

By September 30, 2024, identify three to five funding partners for $6-$11M solar plant project.

Environmental Director

Planning Director

Completed

Tribal Council WCA

Fund Development Consultants

September 30, 2024

$6,000,000–$11,000,000 TBD

In progress

Planning Director Tribal Council WCA

6.3

Economic Development

By September 30, 2024, finalize cost of materials and secure funding for solar plant project.

Environmental Director Fund Development Consultants

September 30, 2024

$6,000,000–$11,000,000 TBD

In progress

Planning Director Tribal Council WCA

6.4

Economic Development

By September 30, 2025, request proposals for construction and break ground.

Environmental Director Fund Development Consultants Planning Director

September 30, 2025

$6,000,000–$11,000,000 TBD

See website for Sun Bear Project: sunbearproject.com

Tribal Council WCA

6.5

Economic Development

By September 30, 2026, complete construction of solar plant and create 10-25 jobs.

Environmental Director

September 30, 2026

$6,000,000–$11,000,000 TBD

Fund Development Consultants Planning Director Tribal Council WCA

STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND ACTION PLAN

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122

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

7

INCREASE SAFETY OF ROADS ON THE UMUT RESERVATION UMU 201 ANETH ROAD OBJECTIVE

7.1

RESPONSIBILITY

TIMELINE

WCA

September 30, 2024 COMPLETED — Applied for four grants, received two.

REVISED: By September 30, 2024 apply for four grants for planning.

7.2

WCA

WCA

WCA

By September 30, 2027, complete five miles of paving annually to complete 20 miles in four years on Aneth Road.

STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND ACTION PLAN

WCA

$1,500,000 Transportation Safety Plan

$41,500,000

TBD

$41,500,000

TBD

$41,500,000

TBD

$41,500,000

TBD

June 30, 2027

Within18 months following construction grant award, complete two more miles of asphalt on Aneth Road.

7.5

Aneth Road Planning

September 30, 2026

By September 30, 2026, complete Phase 3 design.

7.3

$2,500,000

September 30, 2026

By September 30, 2026, complete EA and PER for Phase 2 road paving of Aneth Road.

7.4

FUNDING AMOUNT/RESOURCE

September 30, 2027

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124

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

8

PROVIDE SAFE DRINKING WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEMS ON THE UMUT RESERVATION OBJECTIVE

RESPONSIBILITY

TIMELINE

8.1

Planning Director

September 30, 2024

By September 30, 2024, apply for a minimum of six grants for water and wastewater improvements in Towaoc and White Mesa.

Grant Writer

COMPLETED: USDA = Two grants IHS = Two grants BOR = One grant

8.2

Planning Director

By September 30, 2025, complete EA and PER for water and wastewater projects on reservation.

Public Works

8.3

Planning Director

By September 30, 2027, complete construction of 20 miles of watermain replacement.

Public Works

STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND ACTION PLAN

FUNDING AMOUNT/RESOURCE

$46,000,000

TBD

September 30, 2025

$46,000,000

TBD

September 30, 2027

$46,000,000

TBD

USDA IHS

USDA IHS

125

EVALUATION FRAMEWORK

Ute encampment with lookout in tree, c. 1873.

MONITORING PERFORMANCE

The UMUT works with contract partners to assist in tracking and reporting key performance metrics across multiple grant-funded programs and initiatives. This team collaborates with individual program managers in collecting, analyzing and reporting both quantitative and qualitative data.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

128

DATA SOURCE

Number of jobs created after implementation of the CEDS

Reports created by individual program managers and internal data from the Economic Development Department

Number and types of investments undertaken on the reservation

Reports created by individual program managers and internal data from the Economic Development Department.

Business formation and expansion on the reservation

Reports created by individual program managers and internal data from the Economic Development Department

Workforce development on the reservation

Reports created by individual program managers and internal data from the Economic Development Department

Changes in the economic environment of the reservation

Annual stakeholder surveys

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

Partners will work with the UMUT Economic Development Department to track and report on attainment of each of the identified performance measures. All data is collected quarterly.

In terms of resiliency, UMUT has considered both steady-state economic resilience and responsive economic resilience.

The current employment numbers are below for measuring increases in employment.

ENTITY

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES

Tribal Government

297

Farm and Ranch

28

Casino and Hotel

473

Ute Mountain Communications Enterprise

3

Weeminuche Construction Authority

100

Kwiyagat Community Academy

15

TOTAL

EVALUATION FRAMEWORK

916

Over

50%

are Native American

129

TO W É YA K ( T h a n k Yo u )

“On behalf of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe’s Council, members, leadership, and employees I would like to especially thank Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper for all their support of our infrastructure projects, as well as all the state, federal and private funding partners that participated in the NUCHU: Planning Our Vision Retreat to make this CEDS Plan possible and your ongoing support throughout the years of our Tribe’s priorities.”

—Chairman Manuel Heart 130

UMUT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2025–2026

Ute Mountain Ute Tribe family at teepee near Navajo Springs, c. 1915.

Courtesy Denver Museum of Science and Nature, Stephen Olop Collection.

“We don’t have a migration myth because we have always been here.”

—Eastern Ute elder, quoted in William Wroth, Ute Indian Arts and Culture From Prehistory to the New Millennium (Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, 2000)