It was hypothesized that the introductions of a new business or industry into a high-poverty-level Indian reservation community would produce conditions that could have both positive and negative effects on mental health. A questionnaire surveying the impact of business location on reservation life was sent to all field offices of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Survey results supported the expectation that business development may affect community life in a variety of ways. Respondents cited approximately twice as many positive effects as negative ones. Furthermore, it was found that relatively few Indians were actually employed and consequently exposed to either type of effect. Implications of the survey for planning primary prevention strategies which would minimize the pathogenic influences of business development are discussed.