FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept 16, 2022
CONTACT
Bettina Gonzalez, Director of Communications
bettina@nafoa.org
WASHINGTON DC – Yesterday, the Center for Indian Country Development (CICD) at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis welcomed five new members to their Leadership Council including NAFOA’s Executive Director, Rico Frias (Chihene Nde Nation).
“I want to thank Director Casey Lozar and the rest of the CICD team for the opportunity to serve on their Leadership Council. Their research and policy work plays an important role for Tribal economies, and I thank them for allowing me to offer my perspective on how we can best serve Indian Country,” said Rico Frias. He will also be serving on the Leadership Council with NAFOA Board Secretary, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin.
The CICD is a national research and policy institute dedicated to advancing economic development and prosperity in Indian Country. The Leadership Council is a 16-person advisory group that helps provide input into CICD’s applied research, data analysis, and policy development agenda by helping to uncover gaps in the knowledge base and identifying systemic impediments to economic opportunity and inclusive growth in tribal communities.
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About NAFOA
NAFOA launched over four decades ago as the Native American Finance Officers Association to highlight the role of tribal finance in fostering economic opportunities. NAFOA has grown along with tribal economies over the last 40 years to be advocates of sound economic and fiscal policy and developers of innovative training programs in financial management to build the financial and economic skills of the next generation, and convenes tribal leadership, experienced professionals, and economic partners to meet the challenges of economic growth and change. Through its work in growing tribal economies and strengthening tribal finance NAFOA supports the advancement of independent and culturally vibrant American Indian and Alaska Native communities. To learn more about NAFOA, visit our website, www.nafoa.org.