On July 12, Choctaw Nation Small Business Development and the Choctaw Development Fund awarded Small Business Forgivable loans to four local small businesses. Little Country Flowers & Gifts, My Entertainment, Poteau Family Fitness and Poteau Family Nutrition each received $5,000 to purchase new equipment.
The Choctaw Development Fund supports economic viability and sustainability by partnering with Choctaw small business owners, cities and municipalities to create long-term growth and job creation within the territories of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.
"Tribal Councilmember Jennifer Woods and I are so proud of these Chataprenuers for their continued hard work throughout both LeFlore and Latimer County," states Delton Cox, Choctaw Nation Tribal Council Member, District 4. "We look forward to seeing the impact each of them will have in regard to job creation and economic development here in southeast Oklahoma."
Little Country Flower & Gifts: Little Country Flower & Gifts is owned and operated by Katherine Ashby. Ashby creates custom fresh and silk flower arrangements and custom gift baskets in the Wilburton area.
Little Country Flower & Gifts is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and provides arrangements for funerals, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and more.
The money Ashby received from the Choctaw Nation will be used to purchase a reliable delivery vehicle so she can grow her customer base.
My Entertainment: My Entertainment provides professional performing arts training, recording arts and music publishing services to the communities surrounding Poteau. My Entertainment offers one-on-one sessions in many areas of the arts where lessons can be streamed online using state-of-the-art equipment which brings the sessions into the homes of the students.
"We're very thankful to the Choctaw Nation; not only for this forgivable loan, but for the opportunity for us to continue to encourage the communities' interest in the arts," states Michelle Miller, managing partner of My Entertainment. "Our goal is to provide quality training to aspiring musicians, singers, songwriters and performing artists which would not be possible without the support of the Choctaw Nation."
My Entertainment will be using the funds received from the Choctaw Nation to purchase additional equipment to offer more services to their clients.
Poteau Family Fitness: Poteau Family Fitness is owned and operated by Loretha and Timothy Sconyers and is the largest gym in LeFlore County. Poteau Family Fitness is Poteau's premier 24-hour fitness center helping customers reach all their health and fitness goals.
Open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Poteau Family Fitness has the largest selection of equipment ranging from free weights, weight machines and cardio equipment, as well as tumbling/gymnastics classes, personal training, tanning beds and more.
Poteau Family Fitness will be using the funds received from the Choctaw Nation to purchase a new stair step machine.
Poteau Family Nutrition: Poteau Family Nutrition (PFN) is a nutrition club located inside Poteau Family Fitness. PFN is owned and operated by Lance Sconyers and offers protein shakes and energizing teas.
PFN is open Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and aims to offer customers a space within Poteau Family Fitness that provides a sense of community and a friendly, social environment geared around health and wellness.
PFN will be using the funds received from the Choctaw Nation to purchase additional inventory and equipment.
Photos
Photo by Choctaw Nation
My Entertainment
Photo by Choctaw Nation
Poteau Family Fitness
Photo by Choctaw Nation
Poteau Family Nutrition
About the Choctaw Development Fund
The Choctaw Development Fund supports economic viability and sustainability by partnering with Choctaw small business owners, cities and municipalities to create long-term growth and job creation within the territories of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.
The Choctaw Development Fund partners with the Choctaw Nation Small Business Development (CSBD). The CSBD is a single-source contact for member advisory in the business start-up and existing business enhancement processes that increase the opportunity for success through partnerships with state, federal, and tribal resources. Our focus is delivering technical assistance, training programs, and access to capital for individuals and entrepreneurs in an effort to build successful, job-creating, Choctaw-owned companies within the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.
