The Pine Ridge Area Chamber of Commerce will use a $195,490 federal grant to encourage people to shop and do business on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

"We want to try to get people to spend more money at our businesses," said Ivan Sorbel, the chamber's executive director.

The Pine Ridge Chamber of Commerce was formed more than seven years ago to promote business on the reservation.

With more than 100 reservation and area members, the chamber is gaining steam, according to Sorbel.

"We have a very diverse group," Sorbel said. Members range in size from the Prairie Wind Casino to small home-based businesses.

The grant is intended to expand and implement social and economic development strategies for Native Americans, according to Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D.

Sorbel said the grant will not only assist businesses with advertising, but will also fund service directories to assist reservation residents in connecting with local services.

"We want to get more dollars rolling over in our area," he said.

A portion of the grant will also be used to improve the Chamber of Commerce's Web site.

The Web site will give local businesses an Internet presence, if they do not already have one, or increase the presence for businesses that are already on the Web, Sorbel said.

"We're trying to direct traffic over the Internet to businesses on the reservation and the surrounding area," he said.

The Chamber of Commerce is also collaborating with Oglala Lakota College to add an interactive map to the Web site.

Johnson recently announced the grant award in a news release. In the release, Johnson said the grant enforces the goals of his "Hometown Prosperity Plan," which is a four-pillar agenda for advancing South Dakota's economy from the federal level, by promoting partnerships, emphasizing entrepreneurship, investing in the public good and protecting pocketbooks.

Contact Andrea Cook at 394-8423 or andrea.cook@rapidcityjournal.com