On October 20, 2020, Congress enacted the Native American Business Incubators Program Act, Pub. L. 116-174, codified at 25 U.S.C. 5801 et seq. In the Act, Congress established the Native American Business Incubators Program and required the Secretary of the Interior to promulgate regulations to implement the program. See 25 U.S.C. 5804.The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), Office of the Assistant Secretary–Indian Affairs, through the Office of Indian Economic Development (OIED), solicits proposals from eligible entities (see Eligibility Section) for grant funding from established Business Incubators...

The Secretary, through the OIED, will solicit proposals for an IBIP grant from eligible entities that are able to provide the physical workspace, equipment, and connectivity necessary for Native businesses and Native entrepreneurs to collaborate and conduct business on a local, regional, national, and international level:The following are eligible entities (§1187.3):An Indian Tribe;Indian Tribes and Tribal Organizations, as defined in Section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA) (25 U.S.C. 5304), including Tribal Consortia. Indian Tribes are referred to using the term "Tribe" throughout this notice. While Tribes or Tribal Organizations may apply for IBIP grants, grantees may select or retain for-profit or non-profit Tribal Organizations to perform a grant's scope of work to receive IBIP grants.Tribal College or University that will have been operational for not less than one year before receiving a grant under the IBIP;Qualifies for funding under the Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) and implementing regulations at 25 CFR part 41, or the Diné College (Navajo Community College Act) (25 U.S.C. 640a note); orIs cited in section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note).An Institution of Higher Education that will have been operational for not less than one year before receiving a grant under the IBIP:Admits as regular students only persons having a certificate of graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the recognized equivalent of such a certificate, or persons who meet the requirements of 20 U.S.C. 1091(d);Is legally authorized within such State to provide a program of education beyond secondary education;Provides an educational program for which the institution awards a bachelor's degree or provides not less than a two-year program that is acceptable for full credit toward such a degree, or awards a degree that is acceptable for admission to a graduate or professional degree program, subject to review and approval by the Secretary;Is a public or other nonprofit institution; andIs accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association, or if not so accredited, is an institution that has been granted pre-accreditation status by such an agency or association that has been recognized by the Secretary for the granting of pre-accreditation status, and the Secretary has determined that there is satisfactory assurance that the institution will meet the accreditation standards of such an agency or association within a reasonable time.A Tribe or private nonprofit organization that provides business and financial technical assistance and;Is a Tribe or Tribal Organizations, as defined in Section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA) (25 U.S.C. 5304), including Tribal Consortia;Will have been operational for not less than one year before receiving a grant under the IBIP; andCommits to serving one or more reservation communities. Two or more eligible entities may submit a Joint Application, but:All joint entities must submit certifications they are eligible as they combine resources and expertise at a physical location dedicated to assisting Native businesses and Native entrepreneurs under the IBIP, demonstrating that together they meet the requirements of §1187.13; andThe application must indicate which eligible entity will be the lead contact for the purposes of grant management.

Jo Metcalfe jo.metcalfe@bia.gov