The importance of public works infrastructure capacity building to long-term economic development can never be underestimated. Top priority in the Menominee Enterprise Community list of benchmarks remains a water treatment facility. A collaborative team concept is currently underway to plan, construct and operate a sewer & water utilities project for the Menominee Nation. Together with the Menominee Office of Community Development, the Office of Economic Development is attempting to collaborate in a team-planning effort for development of sewer and water project options.

An innovative resource at our availability remains the Enterprise Community opportunity. Submission of an application to USDA-Rural Development is in the planning stages utilizing special USDA-Rural Development Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community set-asides.

Leveraging of the sewer & water project is not limited to tribal funds exclusively, but also long-term loans and grants from various state and federal agencies. Federal and state agency personnel providing financial support have made logistics and other services relatively accessible. Those agencies include but are not limited to the Economic Development Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, Indian Health Service, HUD and USDA-Rural Development. The Office of Economic Development continues to interface with personnel from the Menominee Administrator's Office, Utilities Department, Grants Writers Office, Community Development, College of the Menominee Nation, and the Menominee Tribal Enterprise for economic development purposes.

The value of a planning-team discipline approach to social and economic development is tried and true. Long-term strategic planning notwithstanding the "team approach" if integrated into the administration of tribal government can result in positive and effective processes.