Find answers to Economic Development questions posed by your fellow Community of Practice participants and important best practices shared by the Resource Group.
If they haven't already managed to do so, how can tribes get their different departments and programs to collaborate over comprehensive grants like ICDBG?'
Answer: The TDHEs that I have seen that have been most successful with large-scale projects are very intentional about engagement with their tribal councils and with other tribal departments...
What are some common mistakes tribal communities should avoid when preparing grant applications?
1. Not giving yourself enough time for implementation or not budgeting enough funding for what you want to do. Request the maximum amount of time allowed unless it is a very basic pro…..
What energy funding is available in 2024?
One of the biggest sources of funding Tribes should be aware of today is still the IRA, which offers up to 70% of the total project’s cost back in a direct payment from the IRS post-commissioning….
What are some strategies to get preexisting on-reservation tribal agencies and enterprises to take advantage of renewable energy development?
Education and outreach are key. Many Tribes are unaware of the advantages of establishing Section 17 charters, registering 8A businesses, or creating Tribal Utility Authorities to start with….
What are the primary clean energy projects tribal governments are looking to finance?
The majority of our Tribal energy projects are full scale microgrids, which typically include a mix of power generation sources, including: solar PV, combined heat and power reciprocating engines….
How is community voice represented in decision making around big economic investments such as those in energy?
This is an excellent and often overlooked question when developing energy projects for Tribes. Sometimes, Tribal Councils, Executives, and other elected Tribal leaders are the first….
What workforce development efforts related to energy are happening in tribal communities?
Our projects all include Tribal member workforce development components. We actively solicit the Tribes for any members who want to get trained and paid during the construction…
To what extent are our traditional views of “cultivating entrepreneurship” relevant to artisans and craftsmen/women?
It's relevant to artisans and crafts people because knowing entrepreneurship helps protect them from art, designs, and produce…
Who is the "customer" for the tribal citizen entrepreneurial ecosystem?
It’s important to understand firstly what you are producing or selling, and secondly who is in your market. To help with this, ask yourself: who is the intended beneficiary….
Are there any full developed models for tribal/indigenous/native K to Career edu-preneurial pathway of programs?
There is a program hosted through the University of MN Extension in the K-12 school system, and students were…
How do we reconcile indigenous entrepreneurship qualities with the normalized aspects of western entrepreneurship?
Focus groups a huge motivator for indigenous entrepreneurship was to establish businesses that could help out and benefit the community..
Current grant models do not support or sustain tribal trusted treaty obligations. How can we rethink this funding and capitalization to support tribal sovereignty?
It’s important to address the structural barriers grant models often impose on tribal sovereignty. The unique challenges that…
How can I juggle multiple funding sources with different timelines and requirements?
