Gudmundson Consulting Group

06/03/2026

06/02/2026

On this day in 1924, the Indian Citizenship Act, also known as the Snyder Act, was signed into law, granting U.S. citizenship to all Native Americans born within the United States. The legislation marked a historic shift after Native people had long been excluded from citizenship under both the U.S. Constitution and the 14th Amendment.

But while the law recognized Native Americans as citizens, it did not guarantee full civil rights. Many states continued using discriminatory practices to block Native people from voting for decades, including restrictions tied to reservation residency, taxation, and tribal enrollment. Even Native veterans, including Code Talkers returning from World War II, were denied access to the ballot box.

More than a century later, Native communities still face barriers to equal access and political representation, making the anniversary both a reflection on progress and a reminder of the work that remains.

05/29/2026

"Live in Needles and need to get to Barstow? You can drive yourself or have a trusted friend or loved one drive you, and be reimbursed for the miles!

See if you qualify and learn how to apply at vvta.org/ncc

This program is a partnership between SBCTA, the Victor Valley Transit Authority, and the City of Needles, working together to improve access to care and essential services for the Needles community."

05/29/2026

The Department of Transportation is opening a new $19 million tribal transit funding round for FY2026, Tribal Business News reports.

The grants can support vehicles, facility upgrades, operating assistance and expanded rural transit service for tribes and Alaska Native communities.

Why this matters:

— Demand already exceeds available funding
— Transit access affects healthcare, jobs and economic development
— Many tribal communities continue to face major infrastructure gaps

Applications are due Aug. 25.

READ: https://bit.ly/4uDHNdS

Share with tribal planners, transit managers and economic development teams.

05/27/2026

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has opened a new funding opportunity for microgrid projects serving tribes and remote communities.

The program offers up to $2.5 million in direct project support and focuses on communities with high electricity costs and weak grid reliability.

DOE says this round places added emphasis on projects tied to industrial development and large energy users — including critical minerals operations and enterprise-scale computing centers.

For tribal communities, it’s another signal that microgrids are increasingly being viewed not just as resilience infrastructure, but as economic development infrastructure.

Applications are due July 2.

Tribal Business News has details: https://bit.ly/3RNo8cG

Worth sharing.

05/24/2026

Colorado River Boaters: The I-40 bridge at Topock is going to be replaced and the US Coast Guard is asking for public comment about the new bridge navigation. Deadline, June 17, 2026 to make a comments on navigation/safety issues.

The files presented are web-searchable copies and are not the official, signed version; however, other than the signature being omitted, they are a duplicate of the official version.

05/24/2026

SBA's latest rule change allows businesses to combine 7(a) and 504 loan limits. It takes effect July 4.

05/21/2026

The City of Needles elected officials and staff was proud to participate this week in the ICSC Las Vegas Convention, one of the nation’s largest retail and commercial real estate conferences, alongside Vice Mayor Ellen Campbell, Councilmember Jamie McCorkle, City Manager Patrick Martinez, MPL, ACE, and Economic Development Consultant Michael Bracken.

The City continues actively promoting Needles as a strategic location for future retail, hospitality, commercial, and grocery store investment opportunities along the Interstate 40 corridor and Historic Route 66. With more than 8 million vehicles traveling through Needles annually, 5.5 million regional visitors each year, and a growing Colorado River regional market approaching 148,000 residents, Needles continues building momentum for long-term economic growth.

The City remains focused on attracting new investment, supporting local business growth, and expanding retail opportunities that better serve residents, visitors, and the broader tri-state region.

05/19/2026

Corporate America is going red.

A growing wave of companies are packing up headquarters, jobs and investment dollars and heading to Republican-led states with lower taxes, lighter regulation and cheaper operating costs.

One report found a Texas city alone gained 111 corporate relocations in seven years while a major California business hub lost 163 headquarters.

05/19/2026

The Southern Ute Indian Tribe became the first tribe in U.S. history to secure federal approval of a Tribal Energy Resource Agreement — giving the tribe expanded authority over energy development on its trust lands, according to Tribal Business News.

Congress authorized TERAs more than 20 years ago, but no tribe had previously completed the process.
That delay says something important about the complexity of federal energy approvals in Indian Country — and about the level of governance, legal infrastructure and technical capacity required to move beyond them.

Southern Ute spent decades building that system.

Now other tribes, policymakers and energy developers will be watching closely to see whether this becomes a one-off milestone — or the beginning of a broader shift toward greater tribal control over energy projects.

Worth sharing.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4fsYbcf