The National Center Welcomes New Native American Economic Development Legislation

Mesa, AZ — The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (The National Center) welcomes the introduction of the bipartisan bill by Senators John Hickenlooper (D-CO) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) to authorize the Office of Native American Affairs (ONAA) within the United States Small Business Administration (SBA). S.1735, titled the ONAA Enhancement Act of 2021, is cosponsored by Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and James Inhofe (R-OK). The bill formally authorizes the ONAA at SBA, doubles its funding, and expands its capacity to support and promote Native American entrepreneurs and businesses. The ONAA would be directed by an Associate Administrator tasked with implementation of policies and programs to meet the business and entrepreneurial development needs of Indian Tribes, Alaska Native corporations, Native Hawaiian Organizations, the enterprises of these entities, and American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian individuals who own businesses or are entrepreneurs. You can read Senator John Hickenlooper’s official press release on the legislation here.

“The National Center thanks Senators Hickenlooper and Lummis for their tireless work on the Office of Native American Affairs Enhancement Act of 2021,” said National Center President and CEO Chris James. “I urge the Senate to act promptly to approve this important legislation and help unleash the entrepreneurial power of Indian Country. Investing in tribal governments and Native American businesses and entrepreneurs helps to grow Indian Country’s economy and the broader American economy.”

The National Center recently drafted a letter to Sens. Hickenlooper and Lummis thanking them for their work to introduce the legislation.

About the National Center: The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. With over 50 years of assisting American Indian Tribes and their enterprises with business and economic development – The National Center has evolved into the largest national Indian specific business organization in the nation serving over 500 clients and providing over $4 billion in contracts to its clients. The National Center has nine offices throughout the nation with its home office located in Mesa, Arizona. The National Center is actively engaged in helping Tribal Nations and Native business people realize their business goals and are dedicated to putting the whole of Indian Country to work to better the lives of American Indian people - both now...and for generations to come.

http://www.ncaied.org