- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
The National Congress of American Indians is offering a $140,000 grant program aimed at shoring up Native-owned small businesses adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Washington, D.C.-based NCAI is seeking applications for 28 business stabilization grants worth $5,000 apiece. Successful applicants must be able to demonstrate how their businesses have been curtailed because of the pandemic.
The funding can be used for a range of activities to address urgent needs in the business, such as paying existing small business loans, keeping people employed and paying vendors.
As well, NCAI said the funding can be used to improve the resilience of the business, such as purchasing equipment or software that will allow the owners to transition their companies to take advantage of e-commerce channels, which have become increasingly important given various state-level restrictions on in-person contact to address the spread of COVID-19.
“Native-owned small businesses serve as the lifeblood of many tribal communities across the country, providing critical jobs and income to tribal citizens and their families while at the same time enriching the quality of community life by providing goods and services to local residents and the public at-large,” according to the NCAI request for applications for the grant.
The organization credited financial support from Google.org for making the grants possible.
NCAI will accept applications on a rolling basis until all funds are exhausted.
Applicants must offer proof of tribal enrollment, business financial information and detail how the funding will be used to stabilize or strengthen the operations.
More information on the Native American small business grant program is available on the NCAI website.
More Stories Like This
American Basketball Association Announces Native ABA InitiativeFour Winds South Bend Upgrades to Class III Gaming Casino
Native News Online Wins Two Awards from Native American Journalists Association
Wahlberg Brothers Are a Big Hit at Indian Gaming Tradeshow and Convention in Las Vegas
Native Gro Offers Tribes a ‘One-Stop Shop’ for Entering the Cannabis Industry
Help us defend tribal sovereignty.
At Native News Online, our mission is rooted in telling the stories that strengthen sovereignty and uplift Indigenous voices — not just at year’s end, but every single day.
Because of your generosity last year, we were able to keep our reporters on the ground in tribal communities, at national gatherings and in the halls of Congress — covering the issues that matter most to Indian Country: sovereignty, culture, education, health and economic opportunity.
That support sustained us through a tough year in 2025. Now, as we look to the year ahead, we need your help right now to ensure warrior journalism remains strong — reporting that defends tribal sovereignty, amplifies Native truth, and holds power accountable.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Your support keeps Native voices heard, Native stories told and Native sovereignty defended.
Stand with Warrior Journalism today.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher
