Intertribal Life Newspaper -

WASHINGTON-Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Tara Sweeney announced that the Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED) has awarded business development grants totaling $727,229 to 21 federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes. Over half of the awards are for proposed or existing projects located in Opportunity Zones.

The awards from IEED's Native American Business Development Institute (NABDI) Feasibility Study Program will enable tribal leaders to better evaluate and identify viable economic opportunities for their communities.

"Native American Business Development Institute grants are a cost-effective means that tribal governments can utilize to investigate whether or not potential economic activities are viable for them and their communities," Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Tara Sweeney said. "They must consider all ways, including Opportunity Zones, that will help them build sustainable tribal economies that generate revenue, meet community needs and create jobs. The 2019 NABDI awardees are a reflection of how seriously tribal leaders view their goals for creating economic self-determination. These grants are just one of the ways we assist them in achieving their goals."

NABDI awards fund feasibility studies that weigh the viability and risks of an economic development project, opportunity, enterprise, or business or the practicality of a technology a tribe may choose to pursue. The studies may be used to determine the likelihood of success for businesses in specific American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

Grants are awarded on the basis of a proposal's potential to create jobs for tribal members and stimulate economies in Native American communities.

The grant recipients and award amounts are:

• Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana: $29,500 for a study on developing and operating a hotel and conference center adjacent to the Poplar Airport and U.S. Highway 2 on the reservation.

•Chippewa Cree Indians of the Rocky Boy's Reservation, Montana: $30,000 to explore building and operating an on-reservation, combined fuel station, convenience store and oil change facility.

• Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, Washington: $35,000 to determine the best use for its Bigler parcel and to examine what types of tenants could further the Tribes' goals for its light industrial/warehouse/distribution center project.

• Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation, Nevada and Utah: $36,000 to examine a 16-acre proposed commercial site on the Tribes' reservation land parcel in Nevada for tourism.

• Delaware Nation, Oklahoma: $20,000 for a feasibility study to quantify the public sector market opportunity, identify customers and go-to-market sales and marketing strategies, contract details, and assess operational aspects of opening a proposed second Channel Blend call center in the state.

• Elk Valley Rancheria, California: $30,000 to study the development of a destination resort comprised of a hotel, conference center, casino and parking facility on its 203.5-acre land parcel.

• Elko Band (Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada): $39,700 to determine the financial viability of constructing a tribally owned-and-operated 20-bed, for-profit hospital and elective surgery center.

• Fond du Lac Band (Minnesota Chippewa Tribe): $33,400 to investigate the feasibility of starting a commercial wood boiler manufacturing business on the Band's reservation in Carton County, Minn.

• Gila River Indian Community, Arizona: $35,000 to take advantage of investments in digital communications access, training and small business support.

• Hoopa Valley Tribe, California: $39,750 to determine the size, scope and viability of a travel center to be located on the Tribe's reservation.

• Hualapai Indian Tribe, Arizona: $40,000 to study utilizing the Tribe's location on Route 66, its close proximity to the Grand Canyon, for a major tourist attraction.

• Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the Stewarts Point Rancheria, Nevada: $34,807 to determine the viability of a for-profit abalone farm and serve as a third-party due diligence document for raising capital for the project.

• Leech Lake Band (Minnesota Chippewa Tribe): $35,000 to determine the feasibility of developing on-reservation affordable housing and structuring tax and business incentives to secure outside investment for these efforts.

• Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, South Dakota: $38,000 to explore the costs and benefits of having the Tribe's business and economic development arm pursue expansion of its existing propane program.

• Nulato Village, Alaska: $40,000 to identify which parts of a house, if made of wood, can be standardized using locally sourced lumber and standardized procedures.

• Organized Village of Kake, Alaska: $34,300 to examine a mariculture business developing seaweed in the waters around the village that will be part of a sustainable, diversified local economy providing permanent jobs with living wages.

• Passamaquoddy Tribe-Pleasant Point, Maine: $35,000 for a proposed on-reservation project to re-direct and re-invest monies the Tribe spends off-reservation on fuels for its tribal government-owned land and water transportation and road maintenance fleets.

Leech Lake Band of the Chippewa Tribe

Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Tara Sweeney

• Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, Michigan: $30,938 for a market analysis on the development of a proposed on-reservation Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) complex for tribal members and their families, whose members are in recovery from substance use disorders (SUDs).

• Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, New York: $40,000 to study business and capitalization planning and to help the Tribe renovate and re-purpose a historic hydroelectric power dam building as an art park/art gallery.

• Sitka Tribe of Alaska: $35,834 to determine if a proposed project to create value-added products and ensure a safe, educational tannery experience for tourists visiting Sitka is a good economic opportunity for the Tribe.

• South Fork Band (Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada): $35,000 for a financial feasibility study on its RV park project to help ensure the enterprise's options are economically sustainable.