The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development Awarded Grant From SBA To Support Small Business Teaming

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED) is one of eleven awardees in a Small Business Teaming Pilot Program designed to help small businesses work together to compete for federal contracts, grow, and create jobs.

On September 27, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Small Business Jobs Act, the most significant piece of small business legislation in over a decade designed to provide critical resources to help small businesses continue to drive economic recover and create jobs. The Small Business Teaming Pilot Program, one of many beneficial programs made possible by the Small Business Jobs Act, awards grants to organizations for training, counseling, and mentoring to help small businesses enter into teaming relationships and compete for larger federal contracts. Teaming may take the form of joint venture and mentor-protégé relationships.

As one of eleven grantees selected from hundreds efforts to of applications submitted, the National Center was awarded $500,000 that will go toward creating jobs, businesses, and cooperative efforts between businesses and tribes nationally and within Indian Country. The organizations in the pilot program will help small businesses find other firms interested in teaming, form teaming arrangements, and find and bid on larger contracts. Grantees will leverage their existing resources and collaborate with SBA District Offices, resource partners, and other federal, state, local and tribal government small business development programs.

NCAIED Chairwoman Margo Proctor stated, “The Small Business Teaming Pilot Program grant allows us to spread our net even further in a new and innovative way to level the field for Native businesses within national and international markets and advocate for Indian business. We thank SBA for choosing us to be one of their teaming partners.”

Already a leader in teaming for over 42 years with 93% of efforts geared toward teaming, the grant will also enable the NCAIED’s twelve nationwide offices to continue to provide management and technical assistance to all economic developers across the U.S. as well as ensure that Native businesses and tribes have the greatest advantage to connect with the federal government and prime contracts.

"We are proud to secure funding for Indian Country and to show our comparative advantage when it comes to economic growth," said Eric Trevan, President and CEO of the National Center.

Other grantees include: The Clearwater Economic Development Association, The National 8(a) Association, The National Community Reinvestment Coalition, San Diego State University Research Foundation, LSI Business Development, Chicago Urban League, Raytheon Company, Mercy Enterprise Corporation, Urban League of Rochester NY, and The Long Island Forum for Technology (LIFT). Grantees were awarded between $200,000 and $500,000 in funding, for a total of approximately $5 million in Fiscal Year 2011.

SBA Administrator Karen Mills said in a press release issued today, “Government contracts are a critical source of revenue for small business.  The teaming pilot program will help small businesses grow and create jobs by giving them the tools they need to work together on larger contracts.”

Small businesses interested in becoming part of a small business team should contact the NCAIED.

For more information:  http://www.ncaied.org/ncta/

The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development is a MBDA Business Center Operator.

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Founded in 1969, the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED) is the first national non-profit 501 (c) 3 corporation created and directed by American Indians, solely dedicated to developing American Indian economic self-sufficiency through business ownership.