The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) plans to conduct tribal consultation meetings with federally recognized tribes, American Indian and Alaska Native business/trade/economic organizations, and American Indian and Alaska Native-owned firms, between October 2016 and February 2017.
The purpose of these tribal consultations are to provide a venue for tribal leaders share insights, make recommendations and discuss concerns regarding MBDA’s business development and entrepreneurial services in Indian Country. Currently MBDA operates five business centers with an expertise in American Indian-Alaska Native business. They are located in Anchorage, AK; Bismark, ND; Fresno, CA; Santa Fe, NM; and Tulsa, OK. Here is a list of all MBDA Business Centers.
|
Date |
Time |
Location |
Event in Association with: |
|
31-Oct-2016 |
1:30 - 3:30 p.m. |
Tulsa, OK |
Native American Contractors Association – Annual B2B Conference & Marketplace |
|
14-Nov-2016 |
1:00 - 3:00 p.m. |
Santa Fe, NM |
National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development - Reservation Economic Summit (RES) New Mexico |
|
15-Nov-2016 |
1:00 - 3:00 p.m. |
Minneapolis, MN |
Long Term Services and Supports in Indian Country Conference & DOI/DOJ Tribal Consultation |
|
28-Nov-2016 |
2:00 - 4:00 p.m. |
Anchorage, AK |
Bureau of Indian Affairs Tribal Providers Conference 2016 |
|
6-Feb-2017 |
1:00 - 3:00 p.m. |
Orlando, FL |
National 8(a) Winter Conference |
The meetings are open to members of federally recognized tribes. In recognition that tribal leaders may not be able to attend a tribal consultation meeting, MBDA is also accepting written comments on a set of core questions, which are listed below. Written comments may be submitted no later than January 30, 2017.
Attend In-Person
Teya, a Native Alaskan small business, will be assisting MBDA in the planning and coordination of the tribal consultations. Ms. Paula Arevalo and Dr. Patricia Luna will serve as our main points of contact for these meetings. Please RSVP by email at paula.arevalo@teyaservices.com if you are interested in joining us in-person so we can plan on your attendance and send you more details. The agenda, venue, and other meeting information will be posted on MBDA’s website at www.mbda.gov.
Questions for Public Comment
Please provide comments on any or all of the following issues and identify the specific AIAN community addressed by these comments (e.g. Cherokee Nation, Alaska Native village, Native American businesses off reservation, tribally-owned businesses):
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Describe any self-governance entrepreneurial or business development programs that have resulted in positive impacts to your community’s economic development? What were the impacts and how did they come about?
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What challenges exist to business development and job creation in AIAN communities? What ideas or solutions do you think would address them?
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What are your goals and priorities for advancing AIAN entrepreneurship and business development?
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What are some best practices that you’ve seen implemented that positively address the business development challenges experienced by your community from either a self-governing perspective, and/or from Federal, state, or local programs?
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Have you (or businesses from your Tribe/Tribal organization) been a client of a MBDA Business Center - AIAN?
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If so, please describe the services and activities that have been most beneficial to growing their business and/or creating jobs: 1. Access to private sector contracts, 2. Access to Federal/State or Municipal contracts, 3. Access to capital, 4. Exporting, 5. Joint partnerships/teaming arrangements, 6. Other
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If not, why?
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Do the goals and objectives of the MBDA Business Centers- AIAN align with your Tribe’s business and economic development goals? If so, please elaborate. If not, please provide recommendations for improvements, enhancements or alternatives. View previous AIAN grant competition.
Submitting Comments
For comments to be considered, they must include the following identification of the commenter: name, title, Tribe/organization/business, AIAN location, city, and state; and they must be submitted in written form to the address above no later than January 30, 2017.
Please submit all comments in response to the questions to Bridget Gonzales, Chief, Office of Legislative, Education and Intergovernmental Affairs, Minority Business Development Agency, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Room 5067, Washington, DC 20230; or by email to tribalconsult@mbda.gov.
MBDA will make a final determination as to whether the comments and information collected during the consultations will be published.
