The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today that it has awarded $100,000 to GROW Nebraska for projects promoting the development, success, and long-term survival of Native American firms eligible for assistance under the SBA’s 7(j) Management and Technical Assistance Program. Project funding is provided by SBA’s Office of Native American Affairs.
The SBA grant program announcement sought unique and innovative proposals to provide specialized training, executive education, and tools to promote business development of Native American small businesses. This funding will help to address some of the challenges Native American firms and other 7(j) eligible firms face, including teaming with other businesses; mastering the process of federal contracting; and reversing declines and re-energizing small businesses.
GROW Nebraska will work with partners Lakota Hope and the University of Nebraska at Lincoln (UNL) Extension to capitalize on the talents and interests of entrepreneurs on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and in the Whiteclay, Neb., area to create a group of entrepreneurs who work together and support each other as they build scalable small businesses that will generate a livable income for the business owner and his/her family, create jobs, and have a positive impact on Reservation residents. With this grant, GROW Nebraska, Lakota Hope and UNL Extension will create an innovative, entrepreneur-focused program that builds and supports a powerful business strategy for each participant involved in the program.
To learn more about the SBA’s Office of Native American Affairs, please visit www.sba.gov/naa.
