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 “native-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.
