The Emerging Leaders, e200

The Emerging Leaders, e200 for short, is an intensive training initiative to accelerate growth of high potential small businesses located across Native America. Get the tools you need to catapult your company to the next level and emerge as a force in your community. The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering a limited number of seats for this exciting and proven course. Classes are to start in April 2011. All SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscrimatory basis. Contact Thomas White, SBA Montana District Office, 406-441-1078. NATIVE AMERICAN 2011 e200 Montana (PDF)

Introducing Indian Country Currents, your information gateway to building vibrant economies in Indian Country

Location: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis - www.minneapolisfed.org/indiancountry

The Minneapolis Fed has launched a web site for individuals and organizations engaged in economic development in Native communities. Featuring articles and reports, partner directories, an event calendar, tribal legal infrastructure training resources, Indian Business Alliance information, models and tools to enhance tribes' development strategies, and more.

FDIC Announces Hotline for Small Businesses Regarding Availability of Credit

Location: 855-FDIC-BIZ  /  855-334-2249

Small business owners can make inquiries with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) officials or register concerns about the availability of credit. The FDIC today held a forum on small lending to explore ways in which credit can be made more accessible to the small business sector. Small businesses are critical to fueling the nation's economic growth, and their ability to generate new jobs depends, in large part, on access to credit.  Read more...

2011 Renewable Energy Programs Application Deadlines

Date: Beginning May 10, 2011
Location: USDA Rural Development Programs

TO: ALL INTERESTED PARTIES

We are announcing application deadlines for several renewable energy and energy efficiency assistance programs authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill and offered by USDA Rural Development. The programs and their deadlines are as follows:  Read more...

Date: State Certification
Location: Online Instructions

The MDT Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program encourages and supports the participation of companies owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals in transportation contracts. It is a federally funded program administered by MDT. In order to participate in federally funded contracts under the DBE Program, they must first be certified through the MDT DBE Program. MDT is the only DBE certifying agent in the state of Montana. The MDT DBE Program Manager is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the MDT DBE Program, such as certification, compliance of federal and state laws, DBE Supportive Services, etc.

The DBE Supportive Services Program provides business assistance to contribute to the growth and self-sufficiency of DBE companies in the highway industry. Services include business skill development and training, assistance with bonding/financing, and resources, to provide information and assistance. All highway-related DBE certified companies are eligible for these services.

Further Information

http://www.mdt.mt.gov/business/contracting/civil/dbe.shtml

Date: Federal Certification
Location: Online Instructions

The Department of Energy owns the land and facilities, and large facility management contractors (FMCs) manage and operate it on a daily basis. As a result, DOE, the largest Civilian buying agency, has a workforce of approximately 15,000 and a contractor workforce of approximately 100,000.

These FMCs are:
1. Limited Liability Corporations (LLC) - only responsibility is to manage and operate a specific facility.
2. Performance-Based, Award Fee, Award Term Contract.
3. FMCs represent the primary procurement model utilized at DOE for the operations of its network of government-owned contractor laboratories and other facilities.
4. FMCs include Management and Operating (M&O) contracts, Management and Integrated (M&I) contracts, and environmental restoration management contracts. Through the FMCs contracting model, DOE directs the mission-related areas, and the overall performance objectives that it wants to accomplish.
5. DOE obligates approximately 85% of its procurement dollars to FMCs.

Further Information

For Rules of Engagement and specific information please visit http://diversity.doe.gov/business/doing_business.htm

ARRA Bonding Assistance Reimbursable Fee Program

Date: Only qualified bonds with an issue date on or after August 28, 2009 to September 8, 2010 are eligible.
Location: U.S. Department of Transportation Website - http://www.dot.gov/recovery/ost/osdbu/

This new program, which will be administered by the Department of Transportation's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), allows small and disadvantaged businesses to apply to be reimbursed for bonding premiums and fees incurred when competing for, or performing on, transportation infrastructure projects funded by American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The program will be especially helpful for businesses with traditionally less working capital than larger contractors.
Phone: (202) 366-0747 (9AM-5PM Eastern Time, Monday-Friday), email: TigerTeam@dot.gov

Application Information

The following link contains application information. http://www.dot.gov/recovery/ost/osdbu/

Tribal-union initiative gets members on long-term career paths

WIND RIVER, Wyo. - The Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapahoe Tribes recently announced that 50 Native trainees from the Wind River and other reservations have gone through the Permanent Jobs Creation Initiative, and that 47 have received jobs with a union contractor providing a career path to a better future for them and their families. The 94 percent success rate for the reservation-based training program - with many of the union apprentice level members former welfare recipients - is a unique blend of entities committed to spurring economic and human development on the reservation.  Read more...

First Interstate Foundation Provides $14,000 for Native American Business Development

HELENA, MT –  First Interstate Bank Foundation has donated $14,000 in private funds to the Montana Department of Commerce to encourage Native American business development in Montana. The funds will enable the Montana Department of Commerce to provide additional grants to two Montana Native American business owners through the Montana Indian Equity Fund.  Read more...

The National Native American Non-Profit Directory

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  The Administration for Native Americans is committed to fostering economic and social development in Native American communities and has developed the National Native American Non-Profit Directory to forward that goal.  Read more...

Business-owning Households More Likely Than Others to Have Higher Income and Wealth

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Does small business ownership help increase a household’s overall well-being? One way to look at this is to examine how the income and wealth of households owning small businesses changed in the most recent economic expansion and recovery period. That task was undertaken in a study just released by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy.

“The report released today finds that households owning small firms in the 1998-2007 period were more likely than other households to be in the top 50 percent in income and wealth,” said Susan M. Walthall, Acting Chief Counsel for Advocacy. “It will be important to continue to examine this data series to assess the well-being of small businesses in the current economic environment.”  Read more...

President Obama Outlines Latest in a Series of New Small Business Proposals - Successful SBA programs Expanded To Increase Working Capital, Help Businesses Refinance

WASHINGTON - Today in Lanham, Maryland, President Obama proposed the expansion of two critical Small Business Administration (SBA) lending programs, aimed at allowing small businesses to refinance and increasing limits for working capital. These are both legislative proposals designed to help small businesses through what continues to be a difficult period in credit markets.

President Obama said, "The true engine of job creation will always be businesses. What government can do is fuel that engine: by giving entrepreneurs and companies the support to open their doors, expand, and hire more workers. Today, we're taking another step towards assisting small business owners get the capital they need to grow and hire." Read more...

FINANCIAL RESOURCES/TOOLS

Generic Overview of New Market Tax Credits (PDF)
By: Claudette Konola, Community Reinvestment Fund

New Market Tax Credits & Other Funding Opportunities (PDF)
By: Arlen Kangas, CFO, Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corporation

Treasury's New Markets Tax Credit Program Named One of Top 50 in the Innovations in American Government Awards Competition

Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED)
Link to Loan Guaranty, Insurance, and Interest Subsidy Program

First Nations Development Institute has been working to restore Native American control and culturally-compatible stewardship of the assets they own - be they land, human potential, cultural heritage, or natural resources - and to establish new assets for ensuring the long-term vitality of Native communities and serves rural and reservation based Native American communities throughout the United States.

First Nations Oweesta Corporation works to provide opportunities for Native people to develop assets and create wealth by assisting in the establishment of strong, permanent institutions and programs, contributing to economic independence and strengthening sovereignty for all Native communities.

If you would like to submit additional resources to be listed, you may contact us at info@mibaonline.org