HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – The Office of Indian Country Economic Development at the Montana Department of Commerce has announced that Gerald Gray, Chairman of the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe, has been elected as the new Chair of the Montana State tribal Economic Development Commission (STEDC).
Gray is in his fourth three-year term with STEDC and replaces former Chairwoman Shelly Fyant.
STEDC works in a government-to-government relationship to expand and improve economic prosperity opportunities through business expansion, capital access, manufacturing, tourism, agriculture, and community development. The Governor appoints eleven members, including one from each of the eight Tribal governments in Montana.
Established in the Native American Economic Development Act of 1999, the commission gathers for quarterly public meetings throughout Montana.
Other members include:
- Richard Sangrey, Vice-Chair, Chippewa Cree Tribe
- Cheryl Reevis, Blackfeet Tribe
- Jennifer Finley, Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribe
- Shawn Real Bird, Crow Tribe
- Delina Cuts the Rope, Fort Belknap Indian Community
- Bryce Kirk, Fort Peck Tribes
- Melissa Fisher, Northern Cheyenne Tribe
- Misty Kuhl, Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs
- Scott Osterman, Montana Department of Commerce Director
Courtesy of the Office of Indian Country Economic Development
