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Welcome to the spring issue of Indigenous Intel, a quarterly publication of the Economic Development Administration (EDA). This newsletter highlights the people and programs increasing federal funding opportunities for America’s Indigenous communities.
In this issue, we’ll take you to Grands Rapids, Michigan, where EDA leadership met with members of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, as part of the 18th America’s Competitiveness Exchange event. Then, we’ll highlight a recent convening in Montana of the Mountain Plains | Regional Native CDFI Coalition, attended by senior EDA leadership. We’ll then venture to Inyo County, California, where an EDA investment helped the Bishop Paiute tribe open a new filling station and convenience store to better serve their community. These stories and much more in this issue.
For more information, please visit eda.gov and our social media channels. |
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EDA'S TRIBAL INVESTMENTS (2018-2024)
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Earlier this spring, EDA released EDA’s Impact, a series of infographics which outline the bureau’s investment totals over the last six years. The series included a report on EDA’s investments in Tribal Communities.
Since 2018, EDA has awarded more than 480 grants to Tribal communities throughout the United States, totaling more than $662 million. According to grantees, these awards are projected to have created more than 16,000 jobs and have generated $1.3 billion in private investment.
Oklahoma topped the list, receiving 38 awards worth more than $111 million. One of these grants was made in 2022 to the Muscogee Creek Nation in Okmulgee. U.S. Representative Markwayne Mullin thanked EDA for the $1.3 million investment, which was designed to support commercial development through critical infrastructure upgrades.
“This is great news for Muscogee Creek Nation and for the Okmulgee community. I look forward to witnessing the positive impact this investment will have on the area for generations to come.” |
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 EDA Leadership Meets With the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi
This May, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Castillo (left, far right hand side) participated in the 18th America’s Competitiveness Exchange event in Detroit, Michigan, as hosted by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. As a part of this weeklong event, she attended a reception at the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan. There, attendees were treated to a performance by members of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi.
Patrick Waggoner (Economic Development Representative), Ryan
Zamarripa (Management and Program Analyst), Angela Martinez (Denver
Regional Director), and Matt Knutson (Management and Program Analyst).
Mountain Plains Region Native CDFI Coalition Supports Indigenous Finance Sector
In April, representatives from EDA’s Denver Regional Office, including Regional Director Angela Martinez, were joined by their Washington, DC colleagues in Browning, Montana, for a convening of the Mountain | Plains Regional Native CDFI Coalition, led by Four Bands Community Fund. In 2022, the coalition received $45 million in funding through EDA’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge to accelerate growth of the Indigenous finance sector and expand economic opportunity in Native American communities.
 Fatima Abbas (Director, Office of Tribal and Native Affairs/DOT),
Shannon Ward (Senior Vice President, Native American Bank),
David Conrad (Office of Indian Energy/DOE), and Carolee Wenderoth
(Tribal Economic Development Coordinator/DOC).
Deputy Assistant Secretary Killingsworth Discusses Tribal Investments at CDFA Event
On April 3, the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA) hosted their 2024 Federal Policy Conference in Washington, DC. Attendees included Tribal representatives, federal officials, community development financial institutions and more. EDA officials in attendance included Carolee Wenderoth, Tribal Economic Development Coordinator and Cristina Killingsworth, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and External Affairs. Killingsworth addressed the more than 200 attendees, outlining the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda and its impact on spurring equitable economic development in Native American communities and throughout the country.
 Carolee Wenderoth Discusses Tribal Economic Development on New Poscast
On January 30, Carolee Wenderoth, EDA’s Tribal Economic Development Coordinator, appeared as a guest on The Leading Ladies of Economic Development podcast. Hosted by Kaycee Bunch, this new program highlights female economic development professionals, providing them with a forum to share stories, insights, and challenges within the industry. Wenderoth discussed her role with EDA and how she works to promote economic development within Tribal communities. She also provided an overview of EDA’s current funding opportunities and encouraged the audience to learn more.
To listen to this free podcast, please click here.
 Bishop Paiute Tribe Expands Retail Operations to Serve More Inyo County Visitors
The dramatic landscapes of Inyo County, California make it a popular filming location, with more than 400 movies and countless television ads shot in the surrounding area. It is also a destination for outdoor enthusiasts who are drawn to its iconic locales, such as Death Valley and Mount Whitney. All of these visitors require fuel, food, and other supplies, a need upon which the Bishop Paiute Tribe are moving to capitalize.
For the full story, please visit eda.gov.
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EVENTS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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EVENTS
On Wednesday, May 22, the Indigenous Economic Development Community of Practice will host a virtual event entitled Current Opportunities for Economic Development That Shouldn't Be Missed: Energy. This session will feature a panel of energy experts discussing how tribes and Native communities have implemented energy-related projects and developed new partnerships in the energy space as part of their community economic development plans and strategies. This 75-minute event will begin at 11:00am PT. For more information, please visit indigenouscop.org.
From June 1-6, the National Congress of American Indians will hold its Midyear 2024 Convention and Marketplace in Cherokee, North Carolina. For more information, please visit ncai.org.
From June 26-July 1, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian will host its 2024 Folklife Festival in Washington, DC. This year’s program is Indigenous Voices of the Americas: Celebrating the National Museum of the American Indian. For more information, please visit si.edu.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
U.S. Department of Agriculture. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture is accepting applications for its New Beginning for Tribal Students program. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, June 5. For more information, please visit grants.gov.
U.S. Department of the Interior. The Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Division of Energy and Mineral Development offers pre-development grant programs to assist Tribes in readying themselves for brick-and-mortar construction projects. For more information, please visit bia.gov.
U.S. Department of Interior. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is accepting applications for its FY2024 Tribal Wildlife Grant Funding Opportunity Announcement. The deadline to apply is Friday, June 21. For more information, please visit fws.gov.
U.S. Department of Interior. The National Park Service’s Tribal Heritage Grants program is accepting applications from Indian Tribes, Alaskan Native Villages/Corporations, and Native Hawaiian organizations for the protection and promotion of their unique cultural heritage and traditions. For more information, please visit nps.gov.
U.S. Department of Transportation. The Federal Highway Administration is accepting applications under its Fiscal Year 2024 Highway Construction Training Program Grants program. Up to 14 grants totaling approximately $4.2 million will be awarded to Indigenous communities through this program. The application deadline is Monday, June 17. For more information, please visit grants.gov.
U.S. Department of Transportation. The Federal Transit Administration awards funds to transit service providers in competitive and formula grants. Many of these programs include federally recognized Indian tribes or Alaska Native villages, groups, or communities as identified by the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) as eligible applicants or recipients. For a complete list, please visit transit.dot.gov.
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LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM EDA?
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- 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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