Innovation Matters: Funding Opportunities, Publications, Events and Learning

USDA Rural Development sent this bulletin at 11/05/2020 04:35 PM EST

Innovation Matters | Special Edition: Opportunities to Support Tribal Communities

Bi-weekly list of funding and learning opportunities in rural America.

November is National Native American Heritage Month

Proclamation on National Native American Heritage Month
President Trump proclaims November 2020 as National Native American Heritage Month.

Facts for Features: American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month: November 2020
The U.S. Census Bureau presents a variety of statistics for American Indians and Alaska Natives.

USDA Office of Tribal Relations
The USDA Office of Tribal Relations works to ensure that relevant programs and policies are efficient, easy to understand, accessible, and developed in consultation with the American Indians and Alaska Native constituents they impact.

In This Issue:

November is National Native American Heritage Month

Funding Opportunities for Tribal Communities

Publications and Resources

Event Opportunities

Quick Links to COVID-19 Resources to Support Tribal Entities

Funding Opportunities for Tribal Communities

Economic Development Division of Energy & Mineral Development Grants
Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development, through its Division of Energy and Mineral Development, invites grant proposals from tribes and Tribal Energy Development Organizations for technical assistance funding to hire consultants to identify, evaluate or assess the market for energy or mineral resources that a tribe will process, use or develop. Application Deadline: Dec. 2, 2020

Indian Health Service Community Opioid Intervention Pilot Project
Indian Health Service is making grants available to address the opioid crisis in American Indian/Alaska Native communities by developing and expanding community education and awareness of prevention, treatment and/or recovery activities for opioid misuse and opioid use disorder. Application Deadline: Dec. 15, 2020

Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Program - Tribal Education Partnership Program
The Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Program is a vital program within the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration and tasked to prepare a next-generation technical workforce and the program’s primary mission is to create and foster a sustainable STEM-pipeline consisting of a workforce of world class talent through strategic partnerships between Minority Serving Institutions and the DOE/NNSA Enterprise. Application Deadline: Dec. 18, 2020

Community Connect Grant Program
USDA Rural Development program to provide financial assistance to eligible applicants that will provide service at or above the Broadband Grant Speed to all premises in rural, economically-challenged communities where broadband service does not exist. Applicants proposing to serve tribal areas are encouraged to research the Substantially Underserved Trust Areas (SUTA) considerations further explained in the application guide. Application Deadline: Dec. 23, 2020

GATHER Food Sovereignty Grant
First Nations offers grants in support of work that contributes to a vision of Native communities and food systems that are self-directed, well-resourced and supported by community policies and systems. Application Deadline: Jan. 14, 2021

Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical and Biobased Products Manufacturing Assistance Program
USDA Rural Development provides loan guarantees up to $250 million to assist in the development, construction and retrofitting of new and emerging technologies. These technologies are: advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals and biobased products. Application Deadlines: April 1, 2021

Business and Industry (B&I) CARES Act Program
USDA is making available up to $1 billion in loan guarantees to help rural businesses meet their working capital needs during the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, agricultural producers that are not eligible for USDA Farm Service Agency loans may receive funding under USDA B&I CARES Act Program provisions included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Access recorded webinars for Lenders and Businesses and Producers. Application Deadline: Sept. 15, 2021, or until funds are expended.

Publications and Resources

Collaborating for Prosperity with American Indians and Alaska Natives: USDA Rural Development Programs for Tribes, Tribal Families, Children, and Communities
USDA Rural Development publication to showcase the many ways tribes and tribal members can utilize USDA Rural Development’s programs to improve the quality of life in tribal communities.

USDA Tribal Youth Resource Guide
USDA resource guide designed to help Native youth stay informed of programs and resources relating to health, education and leadership.

Tribal Leaders Handbook on Homeownership
The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis’ Center for Indian Country Development offers this publication as a guide to the mortgage programs (government and private), the new kinds of lenders (loan funds, Native CDFIs) and efforts that are transforming Indian housing.

Tribal Nations and the United States: An Introduction
This publication was developed by the National Congress of American Indians and seeks to provide a basic overview of the history and underlying principles of tribal governance and introductory information about tribal governments and American Indian and Alaska Native people today.

Scholarships for Native American Students
Community for Accredited Schools dives deep into an array of resources for Native American students.

Event Opportunities

77th Annual NCAI Convention & Marketplace: Truth and Reconciliation
Nov. 8 – 13 | Virtual
Join the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) for this virtual event featuring a wide array of opportunities for Tribal nations and all citizens to collaborate and have strategic conversations.

Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) Virtual Conference
Nov. 9 – 12 | Conference
The OFN Conference provides a platform for attendees to network and learn about economic opportunities and justice for people and communities in America left behind by traditional financing. USDA Rural Development will be presenting during the breakout session, “How Native and Rural CDFIs Can Increase Access to Mortgage Capital Through Loan Guarantees”.

TribalNet Virtual Conference & Tradeshow
Nov. 10 – 11 | Conference
TribalNet offers attendees an opportunity to connect with tribal technology decision makers and business leaders to connect and explore the latest in solutions, best practices, and technology in tribal gaming, government and health. On Nov. 10th USDA Rural Development’s Telecom Programs will offer information during the “Industry Updates from Important Federal Agencies” breakout session.

Introducing Telehealth to Rural and Indigenous Communities
Nov. 18 – 19 | Virtual
The HHS Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Office of Regional Operations - Regions 6, 7, and 8, Heartland, Southwest, and the Great Plains Telehealth Resource Centers, North Dakota Department of Health, and the Spirit Lake Tribe invite all to attend this special free training event to learn more about Telehealth.

Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC) Virtual Conference
Dec. 7 – 10 | Virtual
The IAC hosts the largest gathering of American Indian agriculture producers, Tribal natural resource professionals and USDA service providers and features both learning and networking opportunities.

National American Indian Housing Council’s Legal Symposium
Dec. 8 – 10 | Virtual
The National American Indian Housing Council hosts a virtual event to provide a forum to discuss regulatory and legal issues in the Tribal housing arena, as well as related community development issues.

Quick Links to COVID-19 Resources to Support Tribal Entities

Newsletters, websites and emails from which we gather this information include:

USDA Rural Development’s full Catalog of Programs
Grants.gov
The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The Aspen Institute
e2 Entrepreneurial Ecosystems
Pew Research Center
Philanthropy News Digest
Rural LISC e-newsletter
National Association of Development Organizations

USDA Rural Development Innovation Center

Email: rd.innovation@usda.gov | Webpage: usda.gov/rdinnovation

www.rd.usda.gov

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