Supporting Native American Businesses Isn’t History

The Albuquerque area is steeped in Native American History. In fact, just last week, the

Indian Pueblo Cultural Center was named the “Tribal Destination of the Year” at this year’s American Indian Tourism Conference.

Our region has historically been home to several groups of Native Americans, including the “Sandia Man” and later, the ancient Anasazi Indians, who were known for their huge apartment-style buildings, constructed out of stone and adobe. In fact, most of New Mexico’s 19 pueblos are still within an hour’s drive of the city.

But Albuquerque’s connection to Native Americans isn’t just history - The Regional Development Corporation, in partnership with the Los Alamos Laboratory, Los Alamos National Security, and the New Mexico Indian Affair Department are offering venture capital to local businesses owned by Native Americans.

Request for Proposals for the 

NATIVE AMERICAN VENTURE ACCELERATION FUNDBACKGROUND 

The Regional Development Corporation in partnership with the Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Security, LLC and the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department seeks to further the development of tribally held businesses in Northern New Mexico as a way of creating jobs and diversifying the economy.  

OPPORTUNITY 

Purpose:  The Native American Venture Acceleration Fund will make awards to tribally owned companies for critical technical services that lead to increased revenues and employment for the company.  Awards will be made on a competitive basis and are intended to provide services to tribal business entities that will allow the company to diversify revenue, leverage other investments, create new jobs and have systems in place that lead to growth.  

Award Size:  Up to $30,000. 

Eligible Applicants: 

Native American owned business enterprises in which a tribe or tribal member has at least a 51% share or stake.  

A tribal member or corporation of the Pueblos from Nambe, Ohkay Owingeh, Picuris, Santa Clara, Pojoaque, Taos, San Ildefonso, Tesuque, Cochiti or Jemez.
Company must be located in the counties of Sandoval, Santa Fe, Los Alamos, San Miguel, Mora, Rio Arriba or Taos.  

Entities which have been awarded in the past are eligible to apply again as long as the company successfully completed prior awards. 

Award Uses:
Awards may be used to procure specialized services for the company which will lead to increased revenues and employees.  For example, a company may need to develop a website to increase sales or may need a consultant to help select, install and train their staff on specialized accounting software required for federal government contracting.  The RDC will work with the providers agreed upon by the grantees such as accountants, business consultants, marketing experts or others to provide the services a tribal company needs.  Cash awards will not be made directly to awardees.   

Deadline: Proposals must be received no later than 5pm, October 25, 2013. 

To read the full request for proposals and get more information about the program, click here.