Economic Development

Tribal economic development has provided the base on which tribal nations have built strong and growing communities and healthy economies. Relying on Native traditions to guide community development, tribes have invested the resources from tribal economic development into their schools to support their youth and have built innovative elder care facilities. Tribal government and business leaders are focused on creating jobs and building workforce development initiatives for their tribal members. They have started banks and financial services firms, first responder units, construction companies, radio and broadband facilities, and 8(a) businesses to support the essential operations of the US Government and its military forces. In spite of historic underfunding of federal programs, tribes have built and funded their own government and social services organizations.

Tribal communities continue to experience unemployment levels well above the national average. However, there have been advances and growth in tribally owned and operated businesses over the last several decades. NCAI continues to support initiatives that will spur economic development within tribal communities by advocating for Native government contracting and loan guarantee programs. NCAI also provides and coordinates the education of tribal leaders and members on the variety of financing options available to them. Access to capital and business education are critical to bringing tribes into markets not only at the local, state, and national levels, but also in the global economy.

NCAI is committed to pressing multiple federal agencies to collect and compile a list of the federal programs and financing options available to tribes, and to coordinating meaningful consultations between the federal government and tribes to improve methods of educating and improving tribal participation in these programs.