The Susan Laflesche Picotte Center

The Susan Laflesche Picotte Center is a non-profit organization registered in Nebraska that focuses on preserving and promoting Native American history, culture, and economic development. As a tax-exempt corporate entity, the Center is dedicated to supporting Native American entrepreneurs, small business owners, and youth through various cultural preservation and economic empowerment initiatives. The organization is actively engaged in federal grant programs, primarily receiving awards from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Business Cooperative Services to advance its mission of sustainable economic development and cultural preservation for Native American communities.

Through its federal grant awards, the Center has consistently received Rural Business Development Grants (CFDA 10.351) totaling over $820,000 between 2022 and 2024. These grants enable the organization to provide critical services such as training, technical assistance, and funding for Native American entrepreneurs and small business owners in rural communities. The Center collaborates with partners like the National Trust for Historic Preservation to engage Omaha Tribe youth in restoration and cultural preservation projects, including developing youth advisory groups and designing cultural, wellness, and educational programming. The grant-funded initiatives specifically focus on supporting small business development, preserving tribal heritage, and creating opportunities for Native American youth to participate in community restoration efforts. The Center's work is primarily supported by the Rural Business Cooperative Services, with grant periods typically ranging from two to three years and aimed at improving economic prospects in rural Native American communities.