Business Permit Application Now Available to Complete Online

Participant Application for Quechan Business Development Center

The Quechan Indian Tribe Economic Development Administration (EDA) offers an online application for the Quechan Business Development Center (QBDC), a business incubator in the former Pipa Market building in Winterhaven, California. This program is open to vendors, merchants, and entrepreneurs (VMEs) who are enrolled members of the Quechan Tribe and are looking for assistance with launching or growing their businesses. Priority will be given to VMEs who live on the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation and want to start or grow their business there.

The Participant Application includes important questions about your business vision and description. These questions are essential for us to consider your application. Applications submitted without answers to the questions will be considered incomplete and will be returned to the applicant.

The Arizona Western College Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the Imperial Valley Small Business Development Center (SBDC) offer free and confidential business startup assistance. You can reach the Arizona Western College SBDC at (928) 317-6151 and the Imperial Valley SBDC at (442) 265-4951.

The deadline to apply is Saturday, March 1, 2025.

Quechan EDA will review the applications and recommend them to the Quechan Tribal Council for approval.

For more information, please get in touch with Quechan EDA at (760) 572-5270.

APPLICATION (click here)

Kiva.org Offers Small Business Microloans with 0% Interest and No Fees

“The Quechan Indian Tribe is not recommending or endorsing any specific service provider, lender, or loan product by providing this information. The Tribe encourages its Tribal member Vendors, Merchants, and Entrepreneurs (VMEs) to inquire and seek guidance before borrowing money. Before borrowing money for your business, conduct research and make informed decisions by contacting the experienced business counselors at the Arizona Western College Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at (928-317-6151) or the Arizona Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center at (602-294-6087) for free and confidential small business advisory services.”

Crowdsourced microloans, or peer-to-peer lending or crowdfunding, are loans funded by many individuals who each contribute a small amount of money. This alternative financing model can help Tribal Vendors, Merchants, and Entrepreneurs (VMEs) who may have difficulty obtaining loans from traditional financial institutions. Family, friends, and the Reservation community can help VME small business owners fund their small business startup or existing venture for as little as $25 from each lender.

Borrowers submit loan applications through a crowdfunding platform like Kiva.org, and lenders review the loan listings to choose which loans to support. Once a loan is fully funded, the borrower receives the loan proceeds and is responsible for repayment. Approved and funded Kiva loans have 0% interest and no fees for the borrower. Please review the entire Kiva.org borrower page to understand their small business loan process and how to apply for a crowdsourced microloan.

Crowdsourced microloans offer several advantages, including:

• Increased access to financing
• Diversified funding sources
• Lower transaction costs
• Reservation community support

Overall, crowdsourced microloans provide an innovative way to connect VME borrowers and lenders, enabling financial support and access to capital and support for Native-owned small businesses.

Why Economic Development on the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation?

• Streamlined Tribal business permit process
• Commercial lease space available – on and off the Reservation
• Daily Space Rental for commercial use (Pop-Up business opportunities)
• Great highway transportation system including interstate freeway to and from major metro areas
• Indian reserved senior water rights on the Colorado River
• Workforce diversity (i.e., women-owned, veteran-owned, and Native-owned business enterprises)
• Effective tribal transit system connecting destinations within the Reservation, Yuma, and El Centro
• On-reservation water and sewer, fiber-enhanced telecom and broadband, and power grid infrastructure
• Joint venture possibilities (Indian and non-Indian owned enterprises)
• State (CA) sales tax exemptions
• Federal tax credits
• SBA HUBZone designation (for US Government procurement opportunities)
• International supply chain access (via Andrade CA Port-of-Entry)
• 1.6 million potential customers live within 60 miles of the Reservation

Please visit the EDA office to reserve a Vendor's Square space (at 475 Quechan Drive)  for Daily Use.

All vendors must have a current Tribal Business Permit on file.

All Food Vendors must also have a current Food Handler Card or equivalent certificate.

For additional Vendor's Square details, please contact: edaasstplanner@quechantribe.com