Linking the Sectors of Community Economic Development: Resource Roadmap

Disclaimer: This resource is a preliminary front page for a more detailed, interactive, and comprehensive roadmap that the CoP Team is currently developing. While we work to finish the roadmap, we hope the information below helps you start to think about integrating the various sectors of community economic development.

The Issue

Native community development practitioners and planners understand that housing and economic development are complementary and interdependent activities that must be fully integrated for communities to thrive. When tribes and Native communities seek to implement their comprehensive plans and strategies, federal laws, regulations, policies, and other funding restrictions often force these activities into siloes by requiring, for example, that the funding for housing or economic development remains fully segregated from the other.

Forging Solutions

Integrating housing and economic development requires innovative approaches and the identification of existing opportunities; knowledge of the legal and regulatory landscape; and the collective capacity to advocate for changes that will enhance resilience and strengthen self-determination.

Key Players

• Federal Agencies like EDA, HUD, USDA, DOE, CICD and more offer financing and other technical assistance for native communities to fund community development projects.

• Native financing entities like Credit Unions, Banks and CDFIs provide critical access to complete and gap financing in areas where accessing these resources is often difficult.

• Regional (ATNI, EDC, USET) and National (NAFOA, NCAIED, Oweesta, NAIHC) native organizations support native communities across all sectors with extensive partnership networks.

• Private lending institutions (Wells Fargo, US Bank) offer traditional financing that can be leveraged with other sources to help tribes achieve their development goals.

• Academic institutions such as NNI at the University of Arizona conduct research and offer support.

Housing and Energy/Broadband

• Inflation Reduction Act (Treasury)

• Community Connect Grants (USDA)

• Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grant Program (DOE)

• Tribal Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates Program

• Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (NTIA)

Housing and Education/Employment

• Indian Community Development Block Grant (HUD)

• Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (NSF)

• Indian Education Formula Grants (OESE)

Housing and Infrastructure/Community Facilities

• NAHASDA (HUD)

• Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program (USDA)

• Rural Health Care Services Outreach (HRSA)

Housing and Transportation

• Tribal Transportation Program (FHWA)

• RAISE Discretionary Grants (DOT)

• Tribal Transit Program (FTA)

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Key considerations for securing resources and launching projects

1. Do you have your own data?

2. Do you have qualified staff members?

3. Have you developed partnerships with institutions you trust?