Isabella Casillas Guzman of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced on December 15, 2021, that SBA’s Office of Native American Affairs awarded $1.1 million in grants and contracts to seven entities which will provide business development services, management, and technical assistance to Native American-owned small businesses across the country.  This monetary investment is a step in the right direction to help native-owned, small-business government contractors gain access to contracting opportunities.
 
Ms. Guzman stated that “[n]ative-owned small businesses are vital to our shared economic future, and the SBA is committed to engaging and supporting them. The $1.1 million in awards will provide a boost to the SBA’s service providers working to address the systemic inequities that continue to affect Indigenous peoples.” 
 
The seven awardees represent a geographically diverse group of providers spanning various tribal nations, communities, and industries.  They are:

The announcement stated that awardees will focus on narrowing the gap in business development services provided by the SBA to Native American firms. The services that the awardees provide include: 

  • strategic, and operational planning, and management consulting;
  • marketing and business development;
  • accounting, bookkeeping, and financial analysis;
  • contract management and compliance resources;
  • information technology and systems development; and
  • guidance on industry-specific certifications and requirements.

If you’re a Native American small business owner and have questions on how to take advantage of this opportunity, please contact the author of this blog, Peter Ford, or a member of PilieroMazza’s Native American Law & Tribal Advocacy or Government Contracts practice groups.  Special thanks to Patrick Rothwell for his assistance with this blog.