U.S. Small Business Administration: Native American Micro Enterprise Business Services

The Small Business Administration (SBA) invites proposals from entities currently funded by the Office of Native American Affairs for Native American Micro Enterprise Business Services for innovative projects promoting the development, success, and long-term survival of Native American firms eligible for assistance under the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 7(j) Management and Technical Assistance Program that are located in areas with a high population of Native Americans.

The program is focused on new and innovative approaches to meet the needs of American Indian, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiian entrepreneurs at the microenterprise level of business ownership. The major focus of this program initiative is to target specific Native American business operations in underserved markets throughout the country that are functioning on a microenterprise scale. Specifically targeting underserved microenterprise Native American firms is outside of what the SBA’s Office of Native American Affairs (ONAA) has done in the past and is expected to further expand its business development offerings to these groups. Additionally, ONAA’s vision is to empower microenterprises that specialize in providing goods or services for their local areas to better service their communities and beyond. Such empowerment will serve to maximize economic impact and improve quality of life for the targeted underserved communities.

To be eligible for 7(j) services, a client must be: a socially and economically disadvantaged individual whose firm is a participant in the 8(a) Business Development Program; a business that is eligible to receive 8(a) contracts; or a business which qualifies as small under 13 CFR subpart 121 – Small Business Size Regulations, and which is located in an urban or rural area with a high proportion of unemployed or low-income individuals, or which is owned by such low-income individuals.

Amount: $700,000 is available for grants ranging from $100,000-$200,000 each.

Eligibility: Applicants:

• May be a for-profit or not-for-profit entity (including, but not limited to small businesses, other-than small businesses, trade and professional associations, and educational institutions); and Native Community Development Financial Institutions
• Must have been in existence continually for at least the past three years
• Must demonstrate substantive experience dealing with issues relating to the Native American population and small businesses located in areas with a high population of Native Americans
• Must demonstrate that it has a track record and the capacity to provide assistance to Native American Micro Enterprise small businesses

Link: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=283963

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