What Lakota Women’s Entrepreneurship Looks Like
Sister Owners of rlh, inc. grow their business with support from lakota funds
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Tawney Brunsch, Executive Director
(605) 455-2500
tbrunsch@lakotafunds.org
Ellen and Serena Harmon’s entrepreneurial roots run deep. For over 15 years, the sisters helped to lead and grow their family’s businesses in the building trades—from constructing log homes to providing lumber and retail hardware on the Rosebud Reservation. In 2021, after successfully fighting to keep their business strong during the worst of the pandemic, Ellen and Serena purchased their brother’s interests in their family’s business and officially became full owners of RLH, Inc.
But as Lakota women business owners, in many ways Ellen and Serena are just getting started. This fall, with support from Lakota Funds, they secured a new loan to purchase their extensive commercial property as the headquarters for RBP Supply, Rosebud Building Products, and Rosebud Rental. This critical financing will fuel the next phase of their business journey—to bring vital resources, supplies, and development to Rosebud communities.
“Many of the businesses that operate on the reservation aren't owned by tribal members, or even owned by people who live here, so that revenues generated go immediately off the reservation. But when businesses are owned locally, by people who are truly invested in the community, it keeps revenues and jobs here—and that makes such a big impact in people’s lives,” explained Ellen. “The team at Lakota Funds really understands the unique challenges that face Native business owners operating on the reservation, and how supporting the hopes and dreams of Native business owners will bring needed opportunity and growth to our communities.”
For Ellen and Serena, supporting community wellbeing has always a primary focus. Before they opened their retail hardware operation, local contractors and families living in extremely rural areas on the reservation had to drive hours to access needed supplies. Today, Ellen and Serena love having the ability to offer tribal members a trusted resource to purchase what they need right in their own community.
“It feels good to have a strong connection to our customers. If they come in with a problem, they know we’re here to help, and that we’re always going to be here,” said Serena. “We support a lot of contractors who might not have access to traditional financing, and we’re able to work with them because we know them, their families, and their reputation in the community. We consistently have local folks sharing how much they appreciate that, because it’s what they need to help their business grow.”
As both Native and women business owners, Serena and Ellen are all too familiar with the challenges of accessing credit and securing loans for growth. When they started searching for financing to buy out their brothers’ shares of their business in 2021, they struggled to find a bank that would stand with them. They were denied multiple times. Despite having extremely strong financials, they were told they would need to have their brothers as guarantors to gain additional financing, a requirement that underscored the unique barriers Native women business owners often face in securing funding. After a year of searching, they finally found a bank representative who would support them, and with whom they continue to have a strong relationship today. They were thankful to find similar support in the Lakota Funds team, who were thrilled at the prospect of supporting the next phase of their business growth.
“When we met the team at Lakota Funds, it was clear how much they want to see Native business owners reach their goals,” said Ellen. “Not only did they get us exactly what we needed, including really competitive rates, but they are just incredibly committed to understanding and meeting our business needs. It was very unlike the experiences we’ve had working with most traditional banks, because we felt so supported.”
Purchasing their commercial property represents an important milestone in Ellen and Serena’s journey. While increasing their equity in their business, they are now planning to make significant improvements in the building that serves as their headquarters, including a new addition, signage, and more.
“We want our business, including the building, to reflect how much we are care—for our customers, for the products we sell, and for our community,” said Serena. “Right now, the building itself doesn’t align with the vision we have for our business, and we’re really looking forward to be able to implement a long-term improvement strategy.”
Beyond improvements for their own business, Ellen and Serena’s vision also includes creating opportunities for other local entrepreneurs and community members to connect. In the long term, the sisters hope their commercial property can serve as a community hub—with the potential to create spaces for food trucks to offer local fare, a community garden, a playground for children and families, and more. As Serena shared, “Seeing beautiful things uplifts the spirit. We want a space where people can feel good about living here our communities.”
With their plans in place and their vision before them, both sisters are excited for the work ahead—and deeply grateful for the support they receive from their customers, from community members, and from supportive institutions like Lakota Funds.
“I feel that we’re so lucky to be in the position we’re in,” said Ellen. “And while we’re both fairly private people, we hope sharing our story can help inspire other Native women to pursue their own business dreams. We’re having real success, even in a mostly male dominated industry. I want others to see that they can do it too.”
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Lakota Funds broke ground in 1986 as the country’s first Native American Community Development Financial Institution–with a vision centered on breaking the cycle of generational poverty on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Today, Lakota Funds promotes economic sustainability by providing access to credit for Native people. Learn more at: https://lakotafunds.org/