1. BENNETT THAW IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

2. Bennett Thaw implementation plan
It is time to move forward!

3. Bennett FREEZE HISTORY
What is the Bennett Freeze?

4. First of all… Thank you to the Forgotten People
The champions
First of all…
Thank you to the Forgotten People

5. You have been the voice of the people for many years.
The champions
You have been the voice
of the people
for many years.

6. Bennett Freeze history
Over 20,000 people reside in
what today is known as the
Former Bennett Freeze Area (FBFA).

7. Bennett Freeze history
The FBFA comprises all or part of nine Navajo Nation Chapters, and is the result of a federal moratorium that then-Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Robert Bennett…

8. Bennett Freeze history
…placed upon 1.5 million acres of land that, in effect, stopped all development (housing repairs, housing construction, infrastructure, and business activity).

9. Bennett freeze history
The moratorium lasted for 40 years and was lifted in By 2011, dedicated funding was received by Navajo Nation for housing and economic development.

10. Bennett freeze history
Despite this, however, the funding has been slow to be released for use, and poverty and poor living conditions persist throughout the FBFA.

11. Bennett freeze area

12. Bennett freeze area

13. EFFORTS TO THAW THE FREEZE
: $1 million of Settlement Funding for NHLCO Economic Development Project

14. EFFORTS TO THAW THE FREEZE
: Congress appropriates $1 million for NHLCO Economic Development Project
: $3.6 million appropriated for Housing Escrow Fund

15. EFFORTS TO THAW THE FREEZE
: Congress appropriates $1 million for NHLCO Economic Development Project
: $3.6 million appropriated for Housing Escrow Fund
2013: $2 million available for Housing Study (NAHASDA funds)

16. EFFORTS TO THAW THE FREEZE
: Congress appropriates $1 million for NHLCO Economic Development Project
: $3.6 million appropriated for Housing Escrow Fund
2013: $2 million available for Housing Study
July ‘13: NHLC passes resolution to implement NHLCO Economic Development Project

17. EFFORTS TO THAW THE FREEZE
: Congress appropriates $1 million for NHLCO Economic Development Project
: $3.6 million appropriated for Housing Escrow Fund
2013: $2 million available for Housing Study
July ‘13: NHLC passes resolution to implement NHLCO Economic Development Project
December ‘13: NNDCD holds capacity building session which brings FBFA Chapters together to plan.

18. EFFORTS TO THAW THE FREEZE
: Congress appropriates $1 million for NHLCO Economic Development Project
: $3.6 million appropriated for Housing Escrow Fund
2013: $2 million available for Housing Study
July ‘13: NHLC passes resolution to implement NHLCO Economic Development Project
December ‘13: NNDCD holds capacity building session which brings FBFA Chapters together to plan.
May ‘14: Bodaway-Gap completes strategic plan (a template for future plans)

19. EFFORTS TO THAW THE FREEZE
: Congress appropriates $1 million for NHLCO Economic Development Project
: $3.6 million appropriated for Housing Escrow Fund
2013: $2 million available for Housing Study
July ‘13: NHLC passes resolution to implement NHLCO Economic Development Project
December ‘13: NNDCD holds capacity building session which brings FBFA Chapters together to plan.
May ‘14: Bodaway-Gap completes strategic plan (a template for future plans)
June ‘14 – December ‘14: Eight Chapters and two Districts pass resolutions in favor of Economic Development Project and Housing Needs Assessment Study

20. EFFORTS TO THAW THE FREEZE
: Congress appropriates $1 million for NHLCO Economic Development Project
: $3.6 million appropriated for Housing Escrow Fund
2013: $2 million available for Housing Study
July ‘13: NHLC passes resolution to implement NHLCO Economic Development Project
December ‘13: NNDCD holds capacity building session which brings FBFA Chapters together to plan.
May ‘14: Bodaway-Gap completes strategic plan (a template for future plans)
June ‘14 – December ‘14: Eight Chapters and two Districts pass resolutions in favor of Economic Development Project and Housing Needs Assessment Study
February ‘15: USDA
Rural Development
selects FBFA as priority area

21. EFFORTS TO THAW THE FREEZE
: Congress appropriates $1 million for NHLCO Economic Development Project
: $3.6 million appropriated for Housing Escrow Fund
2013: $2 million available for Housing Study
July ‘13: NHLC passes resolution to implement NHLCO Economic Development Project
December ‘13: NNDCD holds capacity building session which brings FBFA Chapters together to plan.
May ‘14: Bodaway-Gap completes strategic plan (a template for future plans)
June ‘14 – December ‘14: Eight Chapters and two Districts pass resolutions in favor of Economic Development Project and Housing Needs Assessment Study
February ‘15: USDA Rural Development selects FBFA as priority area
March ‘15:
USDA Rural
Development makes presentation to FBFA

22. EFFORTS TO THAW THE FREEZE
: Congress appropriates $1 million for NHLCO Economic Development Project
: $3.6 million appropriated for Housing Escrow Fund
2013: $2 million available for Housing Study
July ‘13: NHLC passes resolution to implement NHLCO Economic Development Project
December ‘13: NNDCD holds capacity building session which brings FBFA Chapters together to plan.
May ‘14: Bodaway-Gap completes strategic plan (a template for future plans)
June ‘14 – December ‘14: Eight Chapters and two Districts pass resolutions in favor of Economic Development Project and Housing Needs Assessment Study
February ‘15: USDA Rural Development selects FBFA as priority area
March ‘15: USDA Rural Development makes presentation to FBFA

23. Bennett Thaw implementation plan
Chapters are Resolved to Move Forward:

24. EDP Bodaway/Gap Chapter

25. EDP Cameron Chapter

26. EDP Coalmine Canyon Chapter

27. EDP Coppermine Chapter

28. EDP Kaibeto Chapter

29. EDP Leupp Chapter

30. EDP Tonalea Chapter

31. EDP Tuba City Chapter

32. EDP District One

33. Housing Study NHLC

34. Housing Study Coppermine Chapter

35. Housing Study Coalmine Canyon Chapter

36. Bennett Thaw implementation plan
Leadership is Responding!

37. Leadership has come forward to assist the people of the FBFA

38. Leadership has come forward to assist the people of the FBFA
• President Russell Begaye and Vice-President Jonathan Nez (OPVP) have made the FBFA a priority of their administration

39. Leadership has come forward to assist the people of the FBFA
• President Russell Begaye and Vice-President Jonathan Nez (OPVP) have made the FBFA a priority of their administration
• The Navajo-Hopi Land Commission (NHLC) authorized the use of financial resources for this purpose in July of 2013 (and reaffirmed that resolution since)

40. Leadership has come forward to assist the people of the FBFA
• President Russell Begaye and Vice-President Jonathan Nez (OPVP) have made the FBFA a priority of their administration
• The Navajo-Hopi Land Commission (NHLC) authorized the use of financial resources for this purpose in July of 2013 (and reaffirmed that resolution since)
• The Navajo-Hopi Land Commission Office (NHLCO) is moving forward on the Economic Development Project and is poised to release the Housing Escrow Funding

41. Leadership has come forward to assist the people of the FBFA
• President Russell Begaye and Vice-President Jonathan Nez (OPVP) have made the FBFA a priority of their administration
• The Navajo-Hopi Land Commission (NHLC) authorized the use of financial resources for this purpose in July of 2013 (and reaffirmed that resolution since)
• The Navajo-Hopi Land Commission Office (NHLCO) has a pending decision on the Economic Development Project and is poised to release the Housing Escrow Funding
• The NHLCO and the Navajo Housing Authority (NHA) have $2.0 million and a scope of work designed for a Housing Needs Assessment Study.

42. Bennett Thaw implementation plan

43. Bennett Thaw implementation plan
This Bennett Thaw Implementation Plan is designed to utilize the existing financial resources that are dedicated to the FBFA.

44. Bennett Thaw implementation plan
Three Funding Sources

45. Bennett Thaw implementation plan
1) Economic Development Project—$999,000 is available for an Economic Development Project that generates seven deliverables including Chapter-based economic development strategic plans, an FBFA regional economic plan, feasibility studies for business development projects, Individual Development Accounts for housing and education, and financial literacy training.

46. Bennett Thaw implementation plan
2) Housing Escrow Funding—
$3.6 million is available, targeted for housing improvements, to be distributed on a formula-basis to the nine Chapters.

47. Bennett Thaw implementation plan
3) Housing Needs Assessment Study— $2.0 million is available for a housing study that will make specific recommendations on the needs for each house in the FBFA, setting the stage for future investments in the housing stock.

48. Bennett Thaw implementation plan
Five Steps
to improve housing, create jobs and benefit the people of the FBFA.

49. Bennett Thaw implementation plan
Tour and Announcement
FBFA Roundtable
Housing Needs Study
Housing Escrow Funds  
Economic Development Project   

50. Bennett Thaw implementation plan
Step 1.
Move forward with the Economic Development Project

51. Bennett Thaw implementation plan
Project Deliverables
Chapter Plans
FBFA Regional Plan
Feasibility Studies
Individual Development Accounts
Individual Matching Funds
Financial Literacy
Final Report

52. Economic Development Project
Other Efforts
Housing Plan
House-by-house specific assessments
Prioritization of housing funds
Coordination with NAHASDA and NHA
Future housing improvements and developments
Land and Water Plans
NN/BIA Land Management Analysis
Implications for Chapter Strategies
Major Projects
Tourism Projects
Energy Development
Navajo Nation Initiatives
Economic Development Project
Infrastructure
Community Facilities
Housing
New Business
Quality of Life
Results
New Housing
Better Community Facilities
New Jobs
Regional Plan with Nine-Chapter Support
New Direction for New Administration
Recommendations and Consensus for use of $554 million for region
Implementation of Visionary Regional Projects (Welcome Centers, Tourism/Cultural Projects, Highway Improvements, Commercial Centers, etc.)
Possible Western Navajo Agency Summit
CHAPTER PLANS BG C CC K L TC T TL

53. Bennett Thaw implementation plan

54. How the Project Addresses the Pillars and Priorities with the Strategies and Initiatives
The Navajo Nation Pillars and Priorities are fully integrated into the strategic planning programming being offered.
25 Strategies
Navajo Nation Goals
20 Initiatives
Business Recruitment
4 Pillars
Navajo Veterans
Business Retention/Expansion
Business Cultivation
Elders and Youth
Entrepreneurial Development
Buy Local Campaigns
Energy Development
Job Creation
Child Care/Day Care
Environmental Restoration
Civic Engagement
Logistics Centers
Infrastructure*
9 Priorities
Community Beautification
Leading-edge Development
Community Center
Value-added Agriculture
Economic Development
Emergency Medical Services
Value-added Forest Products
Energy Conservation
Value-added Fisheries
Water Rights/Projects
Homelessness
Value-added Mining
Housing
Destination Tourism
Local Foods
Cultural Tourism
Pet Shelters
Local/Regional Tourism
Education
Public Safety
Pass-through Visitor Services
Public Transit
Downtown Development
Human Services
Recreational Programs
Education Development
Retail Development
Health Care Expansion
Governance
Roads and Streets
Bedroom Community
Veterans Programs
Infrastructure Development
Walking Paths and Trails
Attracting Retirees
Water Rights and Projects
Attracting Lone Eagles
Natural Resources
Workforce Development
Attracting Government Jobs
Attracting Funding

55. Bennett Thaw implementation plan
Step 2.
Release the Housing Escrow Funds to Chapters with Approved Housing Plans

56. Bennett Thaw implementation plan

57. Bennett Thaw implementation plan
Step 3.
Issue an RFP for the Housing Needs Assessment Study

58. Bennett Thaw implementation plan

59. Bennett Thaw implementation plan
Step 4.
Form the FBFA Roundtable

60. Bennett Thaw implementation plan
FBFA Roundtable BG C CC K L TC T TL

61. Bennett Thaw implementation plan
Step 5.
Go To Work…
We are here to support you!

62. Bennett Thaw implementation plan
Thank You!