- Details
- By Tribal Business News Staff
- Economic Development
Here’s this week’s rundown of new funding opportunities, people on the move, events, jobs and federal contracting awards.
MONEY
NOFO: The Department of Agriculture Forest Service announced last week that it will distribute $20 million in grant funding to help tribes access private markets for forest resilience and climate mitigation that have emerged in the wake of climate change. Federally recognized tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, and Alaska Native villages will be eligible for the resultant competitive grant program. Proposal submissions for the grant opportunity are now open through grants.gov, and will be accepted through Aug. 21, 2024.
NOFO: The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), a division of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announced the potential availability of grants to address local natural resource issues and foster conservation leadership among Nebraska’s federally recognized tribes. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO) focuses on two key initiatives: tribal food sovereignty and food production grants and conservation education. NRCS anticipates a fiscal year 2024 budget of $500,000 for this program. Federally recognized tribal governments are invited to submit proposals by April 12, 2024, via Grants.gov. Selections are expected by May 12, 2024, with awards set to be executed by September 15, 2024. For detailed information, applicants should refer to the full Notice of Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov.
NOFO: The DOT’s Federal Transit Administration announced 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.
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.
PEOPLE
Pictured (left to right): Brunkow, Salmine, McCabe
The Grand Canyon Resort Corporation, the economic development arm of the Hualapai Tribe, announced it hired Rjay Brunkow as chief executive officer. GCRC is one of the largest tribally owned hospitality destinations in the country, with multiple business holdings including Grand Canyon West and the Skywalk, which attract more than one million annual visitors to northwest Arizona. Brunkow, an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, brings significant experience in Indian Country and a track record of economic development to his new role. He previously served as CEO of Indian Land Capital Company, as well as an investment banker for Wells Fargo with a focus on government infrastructure in Indian Country. Brunkow also held positions as solicitor general for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and chief legal counsel for the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians.
Koniag Government Services announced the appointment of Germaine Salmine to the role of shareholder development manager. In her new role, she will serve as “the catalyst for Alutiiq talent development” within the company, according to a statement. Salmine brings more than a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector, specifically within community-based organizations for Alaska Native and American Indian communities. Previously, Salmine served as the executive director of the Koniag Education Foundation, leading educational pursuits for Koniag Shareholders and their descendants.
Sean McCabe was unanimously approved to serve as the Navajo Nation’s controller in a council meeting recently. McCabe is a graduate of Fort Lewis College with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in the state of New Mexico and previously served as director for the Navajo Nation Division of Economic Development. Since 2006, McCabe has been the managing member for McCabe CPA Group LLC, a Native American owned and operated CPA firm based in Albuquerque, N.M.
JOBS
Chief Financial Officer - The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation is seeking a CFO who will be responsible for overall financial management of a Sovereign Nation. This includes accounting, financial and regulatory reporting, external audits, balance sheet management, investments, and financial planning and analysis.
Associate Relationship Manager | Native American Financial Services - Huntington Bank’s new financial services manager is recruiting an associate relationship manager to work closely with senior managers.
Controller - The Catawba Indian Nation is looking for a controller to oversee the accounting and financial reporting functions of the tribe.
Grants Fund Accountant - The Northwest Portland Area Indian is hiring to fill several positions including a Grants Fund Accountant, who will be the lead with responsibility for all NPAIHB accounts receivable grants and contracts including monitoring internal controls, accounting tasks and general ledger accuracy related to expenditures and reporting functions.
EVENTS
The General Services Administration (GSA) provides a range of services to federally recognized Native American Tribes, including property donations, vehicle purchases, and IT solutions. This session will give an overview of the available services and discuss tribal-specific concerns in more detail. It will cover nuances such as the impact of varied funding sources. Register here.
The Department of the Interior is hosting a series of tribal listening sessions regarding a planned update to its Climate Adaptation Plan. In a Dear Tribal Leader letter, the DOI shared that the updated plan — renamed to “Climate Adaptation Plan” (CAP) — is expected to evaluate exposure to climate hazards and drivers of change across the full suite of DOI buildings and employees, and to the lands, waters, and cultural and natural resources it is responsible for stewarding. The CAP will also outline actions to address the threats these exposures present—through investments and changes to policy, budgeting, grant funding, and training.
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.
FEDERAL CONTRACTING
We've got the details on the Navajo Nation's DDC-IT Services business winning a share of a $2.4 billion tech contract last week through a joint venture with a veteran-owned firm. Here are some of the other notable federal contract awards won by tribal entities from last week.
Akima Global Technology was awarded a $750 million contract award on Feb. 14 from the Air Force Lifecycle Management Center to provide communications and enterprise IT support services. Herndon, Va.-based Akima Global is a subsidiary of Nana Regional, an Alaska Native Corporation.
Bowhead Base Operations, LLC was awarded a $2.6 million contract on Feb. 13 by the Air Force’s Global Strike Command. The contract calls for Bowhead, a unit of Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation, to provide monthly operation and maintenance of the base telecommunications system at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota.
Togiak Management Services, LLC received a $2.3 million contract award from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Feb. 13. The award is for a marine construction project on the Minnesota side of the Mississippi River in Goodhue County. Togiak Management, an SBA 8(a) certified small disadvantaged business, a subsidiary of Togiak Natives Limited.
Kwaan Tech LLC received a $2.5 million award from the Federal Acquisition Service on Feb. 12. Kwaan Tech, a unit of Cape Fox Corporation, provides IT, audio-visual, and professional services.
Four Native-owned health companies each received $25 million awards on Jan. 12 from the Indian Health Service to provide healthcare staffing. The Native enterprises are Prairie Band Health Services Inc., Four Winds Medical Staffing, Akicita Cyber LLC, and Worldwide Medical Staffing unit Bay Area Anesthesia.
If you have news, jobs, events, or other opportunities to share, email us at [email protected].
