At the 8th Tribal Nations Conference hosted Monday by President Barack Obama in Washington, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack underscored the Administration's support for tribal communities with $9 million in new funds to support community development and education. Nebraska received $736,109 through the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) program and $286,000 via the Tribal College Initiative Grant program. Since 2009, under Vilsack, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has invested more than $3 billion in economic development efforts for Native Americans.
Vilsack made two significant funding announcements:
In Nebraska, five projects will help Tribal communities and businesses. USDA is providing the funding through the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) program. Recipients are:
• Center for Rural Affairs – Lyons – $198,431 to expand sales for food, art, and other small businesses in the Santee Sioux and Omaha Native American communities in Santee, Macy and Walthill.
• First Ponca Financial, Inc. – Grand Island – $99,576 to implement a virtual incubator for Native American small business owners in the applicant’s 15-county service area.
• Chadron Native American Center – Chadron – $189,402 to renovate and expand a training and conference room for Native American entrepreneurs.
• Central Plains Foundation, Inc., dba GROW Nebraska – Holbrook – $49,700 to provide business development training for entrepreneurs; create a local, regional and global marketing plan; provide marketing training; create a stronger Internet presence; and produce higher-quality end products.
• Ho Chunk Community Capital Corporation – Winnebago – $199,000 to establish a revolving loan fund and provide technical assistance and training to support Native American small and emerging businesses in Thurston County.
The Nebraska contact for the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) program is Brant Richardson at 402-437-5568 or brant.richardson@ne.usda.gov.
In Nebraska, two Tribal colleges will be assisted with facilities and educational improvements. The grants are provided through USDA's Tribal College Initiative Grant program, which supports tribal land grant colleges and universities. The program is an important source of funding for higher education in Native American communities.
• Little Priest Tribal College – Winnebago – $143,000 to make major roofing repairs to classrooms and office space.
• Nebraska Indian Community College – Macy – $143,000 to construct an addition to a classroom building on the Macy campus.
The Nebraska contact for the Tribal College Initiative Grant program is Mary Sneckenberg at 402-437-5567 or mary.sneckenberg@ne.usda.gov.
"Since day one of this Administration, USDA has been committed to a Department that works side by side with Tribal governments and individual American Indians and Alaska Natives," said Vilsack. "We have expanded investment in Native and Tribal community businesses, education, food security, housing, health care and infrastructure. Our funding announcement continues efforts to promote economic development and job creation in Tribal communities for years to come."
USDA has significantly expanded its support for Tribes and tribal communities since 2009, providing $3.1 billion in Rural Development programs and services, including $553 million to build or upgrade more than 300 tribal facilities and $55 million to support Native-owned businesses and economic development.