Another fun story of how the Internet makes a difference in daily lives for the holidays. An Unlikely Solution tells the story of how some tribal communities are able to use the Internet to bring online financial services to people who need it…

While tribes receive some support from federal programs and grants as part of this sacred trust, many tribes have created their own economic development initiatives to help meet the needs of their members.

The struggle to provide their people with basic necessities has been particularly challenging for tribes whose reservations are located in rural areas, far from population centers. These tribal governments have struggled to establish traditional businesses due to their remote locations, leaving them unable to create employment opportunities for their members, or to generate much-needed revenues to fill the gaps between the federal funding they receive and the costs of providing essential programs and social services.

The digital revolution has provided the answer to creating economic sustainability for tribes who face challenges like these. The Internet has enabled tribes to overcome the geographic disadvantages their forced relocation onto reservations created, and to enable virtual visits to the reservation by consumers from all around the country and the world.

Some tribes have begun to engage in this type of e-commerce by offering financial service products. The online lending products these tribes have created help millions of everyday Americans who are unable to access short-term small-dollar credit from traditional banks and face urgent financial needs.

Here’s a quick video that describes the solution from a presentation at the  Cato

One caveat of course is that potential lenders have access to broadband to take advantage of the resources.