In the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the state of Louisiana has taken steps to make asset building a priority. The Louisiana Department of Social Services has embraced the concept of asset building, and is implementing programs that offer opportunities for asset building to low- and moderate-income residents.

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EXPANDING NATIVE OPPORTUNITY: NATIVE IDA INITIATIVE
First Nations Development Institute, First Nations Oweesta Corporation, and CFED are pleased to offer Expanding Native Opportunity: Native IDA Initiative, a comprehensive training and technical assistance program to help Native communities design and implement Individual Development Accounts (IDAs). This project is fully funded by the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

In 2005-2009, the Native IDA Initiative hasoffered regional training institutes across the country, from Florida to Alaska, to help Native organizations start-up, implement, and sustain IDAs in their communities. Participants in the institute receive three days of expert training and also will have access to free, customized follow-up technical assistance to help implement IDAs in their communities. Please contact Adrianne Brave Heart at Oweesta, adrianne@oweesta.org if your CDFI, Tribe, or Native group is interested in being on the mailing list for the Native IDA Initiative, to learn about future training opportunities.

• Background information about IDAs

For general questions regarding other activities of the CDFI Fund's Native Initiatives, please contact the CDFI Fund at cdfihelp@cdfi.treas.gov or visit http://www.cdfifund.gov/what_we_do/programs_id.asp?programID=3