- Details
- By Tribal Business News Staff
- Economic Development
This week's rundown of funding opportunities, news of Native deals, events, jobs, people on the move, and some notable federal contracting awards.
MONEY
NOFO: The DOT’s Federal Transit Administration announced last week the opportunity to apply for approximately $1.1 billion in competitive grants under the fiscal year 2024 Low or No Emission Grant Program and approximately $390 million in competitive grants under the fiscal 2024 Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program. This funding opportunity also introduces streamlined application requirements for tribes requesting less than $1 million, making it easier for tribes with relatively small requests to apply for Federal funds to purchase or lease buses and construct bus facilities, according to the FTA’s website. Proposals must be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on April 25, 2024.
AWARDS: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), is looking for submissions for its 2024 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition, offering prize awards ranging from $50,000 to $200,000. The competition encourages a diverse range of organizations with a shared vision for nurturing a national ecosystem for equitable access to entrepreneurship to submit their proposals. The application portal for Stage One of the competition is open now and closes on Friday, Feb. 16. More information and application access is here.
GRANT: The Feb. 13 deadline is coming up for TD Bank’s $7 million Housing for Everyone grant competition, focusing this year on funding non-profit organizations that are providing services that support independent living for marginalized community members. These services include rapid re-housing, permanent supportive housing or transitional housing. The TD Bank Foundation plans to award $7 million to non-profit organizations within the bank’s Maine-to-Florida footprint as well as Michigan. Applications close on Feb. 13, and winners will be announced in May 2024.
NOFO: The Justice Department listed the Strengthening Tribal Advocacy Responses Track (START) grant funding for tribal governments. The START grants assist tribal governments, and authorized designees of tribal governments, to respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking in tribal communities. The estimated total funding for the program grants is $52 million; the award floor is $500,000 and the award ceiling is $1.2 million. Pre-application information sessions will be held every Wednesday, starting Feb. 7 from 5:30pm-6:30pm ET. Registration is required. The deadline for applications is April 24.
RFA: The USDA released a request for applications for its Supporting the Use of Traditional Indigenous Foods in the Child Nutrition Programs Cooperative Agreement on Grants.gov. They’ll award $2 million in total funding to up to four organizations to provide regionally focused training and TA to school-nutrition professionals on procurement, preparation, and crediting of traditional Indigenous foods, including the use of cooperator and FNS-developed resources and tools. There are webinars on Feb. 8 and Feb. 13 for anyone interested in learning more. Deadline for applications is March 18, 2024 with an expected announcement in April 2024.
DEALS
Eastern Shawnee Professional Services, LLC and Tukuh Technology Services LLC, one of the Tepa Companies owned by the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians of California, announced the formation of a tribally owned 8(a) certified joint venture. The JV, called Tepa Eastern Shawnee Technology Services (TESTS), will provide geospatial information systems (GIS) and related technical services to federal clients. This joint venture delivers the joint capabilities of both companies while competing as a tribally owned 8(a) certified small business.
BOK Financial and Native American Financial Services teamed up on a $500 million credit facility for Muscogee Nation Gaming Enterprises, the gaming and business arm of the Muscogee Creek Nation. The syndication will help the Nation finance its gaming enterprise, as well as fund improvements to casino facilities and various satellite properties owned by the tribe. The line of credit will also allow for development and opportunistic acquisitions, complementing their existing portfolio, according to a statement.
JOBS
Chief Financial Officer - The Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians is looking for a CFO with responsibility for directing all financial and accounting functions of its Tribal Government and its subordinate, non-gaming entities.
Project Manager (Reforestation) - The nonprofit Indian Land Tenure Foundation, which helps tribes own and manage their land, is looking for a project manager to lead the charge in designing and implementing carbon offset projects.
Director of Environmental - The Pechanga Tribe is hiring a director responsible for environmental protection and resources management of its reservation and tribally owned lands, including identifying necessary federal regulations for compliance and implementing environmental protection programs for Air, Water, Solid Waste and Natural Resources.
Realty Specialist - The Department of the Interior is seeking to fill multiple realty specialist positions within the Office of Trust Services and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The listing is an open continuous announcement; applicant reviews started on Jan. 3 and occur every two weeks after.
EVENTS
The Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association’s summit brings together cannabis advocates, tribal nations, entrepreneurs, and policy experts. Attendees can expect sessions on the effects of new federal laws and Wisconsin's proposed medicinal cannabis bill, as well as discussions on tribal nation growth, fundraising, and industry opportunities in hemp and cannabis.
Every two years, the Department of Energy’s Office of Indian Energy along with other DOE offices convenes Tribal Leaders and energy stakeholders to exchange ideas promoting energy infrastructure development for Tribes and Tribal communities. Tribal Leaders and their subject matter experts—together with the DOE, the administration, federal agency partners, state governments, private industry, utilities, and academia—attend to build networks, exchange ideas, explore cross-cutting and cost-effective solutions to national energy interests, and support Tribal sovereignty. Registration info is here.
Fourth annual cybersecurity summit presented by TribalHub. Learn about the critical role and responsibilities of tribal executives, tribal regulators and tribal technology resources in protecting and preparing your tribe or tribal enterprise. Build and gain insight into the necessary and critical investments required for cybersecurity. Learn about what costly information security mistakes to avoid in order to minimize the risk of your tribe or enterprise being a victim or target. Registration here.
PEOPLE
The ANCSA Regional Association announced Cindy Aġnaqhiq Towarak Massie, president of the Bering Straits Native Corporation, and Cook Inlet Region, Inc. President Sarah Lukin were added to its board of directors. The ARA board includes one representative from each of the 12 land-based Alaska Native regional corporations.
The Potawatomi Business Development Corporation welcomed two new board members last week, appointing Crystal Deschinny and Mko Daniels. Both are members of the tribe. Deschinny is the Treasurer for the Ho-Chunk Nation and CFO for telecommunications company Deschinny Communications. Daniels’ background includes work as an archivist at the Forest County Potawatomi museum, as well as internships with the tribe’s gaming commission and the PBDC itself.
The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians’ Four Winds Casino named Mary Smith as its new COO. Smith most recently served as executive vice president of casino operations, and takes over for interim COO and current CFO Clayton Mason. Smith is the first female executive to take over the COO position for Four Winds, per a statement by the casino.
Bodwé Professional Services Group has hired Brett Hysinger as the vice president of Federal Support Services. Hysinger will oversee non-architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) federal contracts for Bodwé and report directly to Jeremy Berg, the company’s COO. Bodwé Group is part of Mno-Bmadsen, the non-gaming investment enterprise arm of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi.
FEDERAL CONTRACTING
Here are some of the notable federal contract awards won by tribal entities from last week.
Chugach Technical Solutions LLC was awarded a contract by the U.S. Navy that could be worth up to $124.3 million over 10 years, according to a Department of Defense news release last week. The contract, which calls for Chugach to provide shipboard unclassified video systems (UVS), has a five-year base ordering period with a potential value of $57.2 million and a five-year option ordering period that could bring the cumulative potential value of this contract to $124,286,726.
Cherokee Strategic Solutions LLC was awarded a $4.6 million contract on Feb. 9 by the Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration for flight deck research simulator maintenance.
Kira Government Services LLC was awarded an $8.7 million contract on Feb. 7 to provide facility maintenance for the U.S. Army Reserve’s facilities in the Des Moines region. Kira is a unit of the Tlingit Haida Tribal Business Corporation.
Togiak Management Services, LLC was awarded a $2.3 million contract on Feb. 6 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a marine construction project. Togiak is a subsidiary of Togiak Natives Limited, which is owned by the Bristol Bay Native Corporation.
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