Michelle Allen, Tribal Council Secretary, and Craig Mansfield, Tribal Councilman, of the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Named as Alternating Board Members to The Native American Fair Commerce Coalition

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - Sep 6, 2011) - The Native American Fair Commerce Coalition (NAFCC), a representative organization comprised of like-minded tribes and tribal members that are committed to protecting the sovereign rights -- well settled in US law -- of Native Americans to pursue business and economic opportunities for their tribes nationwide, has added Michelle Allen, Tribal Secretary, and Craig Mansfield, Tribal Councilman of the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, as alternating members of the organization's Board of Trustees.

Announcement of Allen's and Mansfield's appointment was made jointly by Darold Stagner, Executive Director of the NAFCC and Alan Shively, Chairman of the Tribe and the Tribal official responsible for their appointment.

The newest members of the its Board of Trustees, Allen and Mansfield join the NAFCC at a time of impressive growth for the organization, which is experiencing a dramatic increase in both tribal and general membership. Allen and Mansfield will work closely with the NAFCC Board of Trustees, Executive Director Stagner and the coalition's management team to advance its mission of protecting the sovereign rights of Native American tribes to engage in economic development opportunities and further the Coalition's outreach to the mainstream business community.

"We are pleased to appoint Michelle Allen and Craig Mansfield as our Tribe's voice on NAFCC Board of Trustees. Michelle and Craig are dedicated champions of Native American rights and will contribute greatly towards meeting the challenging objectives ahead," said Shively.

"The mission of the NAFCC is the mission of Native American tribes nationwide. We are proud to be expanding our coalition not only in sheer numbers, but by the impressive quality of the individuals joining with us. Michelle Allen is widely respected for her commitment towards improving the lives and enhancing the economic opportunities of Native Americans and Craig Mansfield is a proven leader with great business acumen acquired through his work as Lac Vieux Desert's Hotel Manager," said Stagner.

About The Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians

In 1988, President Reagan signed the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians (LVD) Act that recognized LVD as a separate and distinct Tribe. The Band's first major project since Federal Recognition was development of a multi-purpose facility for the community completed in 1992. Just after recognition and by the mid '90s LVD was awarded 10 additional housing units, started Day Care Services, initiated a fish hatchery operation and became active in purchasing lands for Tribal expansion. Around the mid '90s LVD had developed a Health Clinic, reconstructed roads, built water and wastewater systems, established an Environmental Office, and started a construction trades program.

The late '90s found LVD very active in operating a resort facility including a 76 room motel, 9 hole golf course, gaming facility, restaurant, and a host of small businesses. Also during that time, LVD developed a limited care facility, mental health, pharmaceutical, dental, and optometry services, expanded day care and child care services, opened a convenience store, created a Tribal Water and Wastewater Utility in which the Tribe has the responsibility of managing a complete public water system and wastewater lagoon system, constructed a new law enforcement facility, donated significant funds to outside communities to assist in their development efforts, and started constructing new homes for Tribal members and their families totaling 30 new homes as of this writing.

Today, LVD is exploring the possibilities of developing a convention center, strengthening and protecting the Band's cultural resources, and continuing to develop strategies to allow for continued growth. Immediate plans include, the addition of 9 additional residential houses, expanding utility infrastructure to an undeveloped 35 acre housing site, developing plans for a Learning Resource Center/Voc. Tech type school, creating a revolving loan for business start-ups/expansions, developing a grocery/mini mall, fun park and low budget overnight accommodations, golf course expansion, expanding the historic trail effort, developing a warehouse for building materials, and constructing apartment buildings.