Small Business Development Department | (928) 871-7379

Overview & Regional Business Development Offices

The Small Business Development Department envisions a self-sufficient Navajo economy with a viable small business sector that is the backbone of the local Navajo economy providing goods and services on and off the Navajo Nation.

Small business is key to employment opportunities that generate personal wealth in harmony with the natural beauty and unique culture that exists within the Navajo Nation

Our Purpose

The Navajo Nation, through its Small Business Regional Business Development Offices (RBDO), provides management assistance to current and prospective small business owners by providing a wide variety of information and guidance through seven branch locations.

It enhances economic development by providing technical assistance not only to small business developers but also to local Chapters, communities, business associations, and other organizations with local planning and promotion of business and economic development activities.

They also administer the Micro-Enterprise Loan Program (MELP) as a major participant to provide loan application reviews that will ensure compliance with loan guidelines.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Small Business Development Department is to provide services at the local level that promote, develop and support the small business sector of the Navajo Nation economy. The services, provided to a broad range of clientele, include technical assistance with local community planning, land withdrawals and clearances, business site leasing, site development, business plan development, loans, micro-loans, training and leadership through the approval processes. The ultimate mission is to help the Navajo Nation reach the long-term goals as outlined in the vision statement.

We are here to help you!

Contact your Business Development representative who will assist you with the rest of the site lease selection process, application guidelines,
regulatory requirements, and business development process.

The RBDO's will assist you with the following services:

  • Writing business plans
  • Negotiating and processing business site leases
  • Designing marketing plans
  • Assisting with regulatory compliance
  • Setting up bookkeeping/record keeping systems
  • Providing computer usage
  • Assisting with acquiring land for development
  • Assisting with bid preparations
  • Business educational seminars
  • Assembling loan packages or financial plans
  • Instruction in using computers for business applications
  • Providing business-related training classes and seminars

Small Business Toolkit

1. Choosing The Appropriate Business Structure

2. Sources of Financial Assistance

3. Business Plan Checklist

4. Business Plan & Worksheets

5. Business Startup Strategy

6. Managing Your Small Business

7. Finding Sources of Start-Up Capital

8. Reasons Why Businesses Fail on the Navajo Nation

9. Establishing A Good Banking Relationship

10. Ten Commandments of Small Business Succes

Regional Business Development Office Information

Fort Defiance

Fort Defiance RBDO

Located in the Karigan Professional Office Complex on the 2nd Floor, Office 209, Shared with Tourism.

  • P.O. Box 664, Window Rock, AZ 86515

  • Ph: (928) 871-6486

  • Fax: (928) 871-6704

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Chinle

Chinle RBDO

Located East of Highway 191, South of Mesa View Elementary School, across from the Injury Law Office of Chinle, Arizona.

  • P.O. Box 565, Chinle, AZ 86503

  • Ph: (928) 674-2240

  • Fax: (928) 674-2244

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Western

Western RBDO

Located in the same building as the KFC, the suite ingress is the last office on the left away from the front of the KFC.

  • 720 S Main St, Suite C, Tuba City, AZ 86045

  • P.O. Box 485, Tuba City, AZ 86045

  • Ph: (928) 283-3010

  • Fax: (928) 283-3015

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Eastern

Eastern RBDO

Located 2 miles East of Interstate 40/Route 66 intersection (Mile Marker 28).

  • 211 East Historic 66, Church Rock, NM 87311

  • P.O. Box 250, Church Rock, NM 87420

  • Ph: (505) 905-6400

  • Fax: (505) 905-6401

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Shiprock

Shiprock RBDO

Located in the Tse Bit A i Shopping Center next to the Navajo Arts and Crafts Enterprise.

  • Tse Bit Ai Shopping Center, Suite 2, Shiprock, NM 87420

  • P.O. Box 1864, Shiprock, NM 87420

  • Ph: (505) 368-1315

  • Fax: (505) 368-1324

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