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Welcome to Indigenous Intel, a new quarterly publication from the Economic Development Administration (EDA). This newsletter will provide the latest information from EDA and its Indigenous communities partners, interviews with Tribal leaders and EDA employees, success stories from across our regions, grant opportunities, and more.
In this inaugural issue, you’ll get the latest on our American Rescue Plan Indigenous Communities program. You’ll also meet Ernest Weston, Tribal Economic Development Representative in the Denver Regional Office, the first Tribal-specific EDR role within EDA. You’ll also discover resources and opportunities to participate with both EDA and other federal agencies.
For more information, please visit eda.gov and our social media channels.
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Ernest Weston, Jr.
TRIBAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REPRESENTATIVE
Ernest Weston, Jr. is the Tribal Economic Development Representative (EDR) in the Denver Regional Office, the first Tribal specific EDR role within EDA. He came to EDA in 2021, at a time of historic funding opportunities made available through the American Rescue Plan. A key component of that is the Indigenous Communities program, which allocated $100 million specifically in grants to Indian country.
For the full story, visit eda.gov.
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Indigenous Communities Program
Shortly after taking office in 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan into law. This historic legislation was designed to enable all Americans to respond to and recover from the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.
Included in this was the Indigenous Communities program, through which EDA is allocating $100 million to support the needs of Tribal governments and Indigenous communities as they work to recover and build a better America.
The application process recently came to a close. The response was overwhelming. EDA received over $400 million in applications for a variety of projects, demonstrating the differences in need and priority throughout Indian country.
We are currently reviewing applications to determine the finalists for the next round of consideration. The high volume of applications can be credited in part to a rule change EDA enacted in 2021, extending Tribal eligibility to include for-profit entities that are wholly owned by and established for the benefit of a Tribe.
These flexibilities demonstrate EDA’s commitment to addressing equity and helping underserved communities not just recover from the pandemic, but become resilient to future economic shocks.
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 JUNE 1
Visit to Hopi Reservation in Arizona
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Castillo visited the Hopi Reservation in Arizona (above) for a Coalition Conversation on the Build Back Better Regional Challenge. The Tribal-owned Hopi Utilities Corporation received a BBBRC Phase 1 planning grant to help fill the void of lost revenues and jobs related to the Navajo Generating Station closure while mitigating climate change by creating clean energy.
 MAY 18
Visit to Spruce Root in Juneau, Alaska
Assistant Secretary Castillo visited Juneau, Alaska, where she met with representatives of the economic development nonprofit Spruce Root (above), for a Coalition Conversation on the Build Back Better Regional Challenge. Spruce Root has developed a coalition that proposes the development of a sustainable forest products cluster that will establish Southeast Alaska as a leader in the transition from a legacy nonrenewable logging economy to a 21st century economy powered by sustainable forest products. If provided an implementation grant, the coalition project proposes to create economic opportunity for Tribal and rural communities throughout Southeast Alaska.
 APRIL 19
Coalition Conversation at the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation
Deputy Assistant Secretary Dennis Alvord participated in a Coalition Conversation at the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation with Four Bands Community Fund (above), which leads a coalition that aims to strengthen the finance sector in Native American communities in North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and Wyoming. The tour and roundtable discussion with coalition members was held at the Four Bands Community Fund’s business incubator in Eagle Butte, South Dakota. The event was kicked off with a welcome by Chairman Harold Frazier of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.
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OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES
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LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM EDA?
- Subscribe to this and other EDA newsletters and updates – click here to register.
- Connect with a local Economic Development Representative (EDR) – click here to find your EDR.
- Find an Economic Development District (EDD) for planning support and technical assistance – click here for the EDD Directory.
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