Letters | Business barriers

Business barriers

Editor,

I am a voter and resident of Shiprock, and the owner of Shiprock Windows and Glass LLC. I started my business in September 2020.

As a Navajo small business owner, I have learned that starting and growing a business on the Navajo Nation can be much harder than it should be. I have faced long delays in getting a business lease, high costs, shipping challenges and limited options for investing in my business.

These are not just business problems. They affect our communities, our families and our economy.

My business depends on shipments from manufacturers. We need windows, glass and other supplies delivered in bulk. Having a reliable place to receive those shipments is essential to keeping the business running.

But getting a business site lease was a major challenge.

I first went to the Business Development Office in Shiprock in 2020. I did not receive my business site lease until 2024. It took about five years, and five years is too long.

A person who wants to start a small business should not have to wait years just to get a place to operate. Small businesses do not have the financial backing of large corporations. Many of us use our own money, work long hours, and take personal risks to build something for our families and communities.

We need a system that helps people succeed.

Another major issue is land ownership. When you build on a business lease, you do not own the land. That makes it difficult to build equity or use the property to secure financing. As a result, business owners may be hesitant to invest in better buildings and facilities.

Large companies may have the financial resources to build restaurants, gas stations and other major businesses. For a small, family-owned business, every dollar matters.

We also face the cost of rent, building improvements and meeting fire and safety codes. A business owner may spend a large amount of money bringing a building up to code and then face a high monthly lease payment. Those costs can take money away from hiring employees, buying equipment and expanding services.

I have seen businesses and aspiring business owners move to Farmington and other border communities because it can be easier to operate there. When businesses leave, the Navajo Nation loses jobs, services and economic activity.

These are issues I have discussed with Crystalyne Curley and Chris Deschene. I have shared my experience as a Navajo small business owner and the challenges I believe need attention if we want to strengthen the Navajo economy.

Economic development is not only about large projects and corporations. It is also about the person opening a repair shop, starting a construction company, running a restaurant, operating a store, or providing services in a rural community.

Those businesses matter.

After talking with Crystalyne Curley and Chris Deschene about these issues, I believe they understand the challenges facing Navajo small businesses and the need to strengthen our economy. There is a lot of work that needs to be done. We need to look closely at the red tape, policies, procedures and regulations that make it harder for people to start and grow businesses on the Navajo Nation.

We need leaders who will listen to small business owners and understand what we face every day. That is why I support the Curley and Deschene ticket. I believe they have the insight and understanding needed to look at these problems and work toward improvements.

As a Navajo small business owner, I want to see an economy where our people have a fair chance to build businesses, create jobs, and invest in their communities. I believe that work needs to begin now.

Matthew White
Shiprock, N.M.

 

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