How Hoopa Valley’s Digital Navigator Is Helping Small Businesses Go Cashless

When Abraham Camez set up shop at the Hoopa Valley Community to sell his signature smoked BBQ, he noticed something that stuck with him. “A lot of people around here make incredible food or handmade goods,” he said. “But many of them weren’t making sales simply because they didn’t accept credit cards.” That everyday observation planted the seed for a brand-new community program—that’s now helping local vendors modernize their small businesses, accept digital payments, and grow their customer base. As the Digital Navigator for the Hoopa Valley Tribe, Abraham has spent the last few years helping community members get online, access devices, and build essential digital skills. But it was clear to him that small business owners needed more specialized support. With support from NDIA and funding from the already-in-place National Digital Navigator Corps grant, Abraham got to work designing something new: a tailored training course to teach Hoopa vendors how to use Square Point of Sale (POS) System software and iPads for cashless transactions.