Native American-owned businesses
The federal government provides opportunities in contracting, business development, and other programs for Native American small business owners.
Office of Native American Affairs
The U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of Native American Affairs (ONAA) facilitates full access to business growth and expansion tools for small businesses owned by Native Americans. ONAA engages in tribal consultations, produces promotional materials, and participates in national economic development conferences.
American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians can use our local assistance tool to find nearby offices and resources. There, you can get counseling on whether our 8(a) Business Development Program is right for you.
Free technical assistance
ONAA offers free technical assistance for a variety of business types. Consider the following for technical assistance.
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Provides technical assistance to expand its existing training programs with: executive coaching for businesses in the areas of sales, marketing and product management; financial management coaching and related topics.
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The ‘Oihana project is a small business development program that provides training, technical assistance, and networking opportunities to Native Hawaiian businesses/entrepreneurs.
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Provides capacity building services, including training, counseling, and technical assistance to Native Hawaiian businesses; conducts an eight-week entrepreneurship course for business start-up and growth for native entrepreneurs; and provides assistance with branding, website design, and marketing opportunities.
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IDRS, Inc. provides entrepreneurship training and technical assistance to tribal members throughout California, Nevada and Oregon to help them start and grow their small businesses. Training workshops include business plan development, accounting and Quickbooks training, financial planning, negotiation and computer literacy.
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Delivers innovative technical assistance to Native American-led small businesses to help entrepreneurs succeed. Topics include access to capital, access to market, and how to build the portfolio of Native American-owned small businesses.
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Develops and expands the American Indian/Alaska Native private sector by providing and facilitating high quality development and support services to Native American-owned businesses, tribal enterprises, and individuals.
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Prepares Native American-owned small businesses for government contracting with SBA’s 8(a) procurement program, along with other programs. Promotes business relationships with private sector companies through matchmaking activities, conferences, and workshops.
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Building Native American microenterprise capacity throughout Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico. Native American entrepreneurs work together to grow in business.
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Provides technical assistance to develop small businesses through customized training and webinar sessions. Learn about starting a business, understanding taxes, marketing, human resources, government contracting, and financial management.
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Provides technical assistance that will be based on knowledge of the SBA 8(a) program and SBA’s standard operating procedures; also tribal sovereignty, tribal ordinances and knowledge of working in tribal communities.
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Other federal programs
The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs provides services to federally recognized tribes. You can take advantage of education, job training, and employment opportunities. These are delivered through contracts, grants, and compacts to approximately 1.9 million American Indians and Alaska Natives.
For more information, visit the following federal programs.
Additional Native American resources
SBA’s Office of Native American Affairs has contracted with the following companies to offer entrepreneurial empowerment workshops for Native American communities:
Additional resources are available through the following organizations: