Funding Opportunities
June 24, 2020
Dear Members, Partners and Friends:

The National Endowment for the Arts Our Town has announced the opening of it's creative placemaking grants program applications.

Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program is accepting applications to restore and conserve fish and wildlife habitat.

The Department of Energy Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs has new funding for energy technology on tribal lands to stabilize or reduce energy costs and increase energy security and resiliency.

The Department of the Interior's Tribal Energy Development Capacity Program is seeking proposals to develop the Tribal management, organizational and technical capacity needed to maximize the economic impact of energy resource development on tribal lands.

USDA is providing additional support through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) to farmers and ranchers whose operations have been directly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

A reminder that the Administration for Native Americans Social and Economic Development Strategies  deadline of July 15, 2020, is coming up.

America’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative, a public-private partnership administered by Reinvestment Fund on behalf of USDA Rural Development, is providng grants to improve access to healthy food in underserved areas.

Join us for our upcoming AIANTA webinar Ways the USFS and the USDA Support Cultural Heritage Tourism will be held on July 14, 2020.
National Endowment for the Arts Creative Placemaking Grants Available

Deadline: August 6, 2020
Our Town is the National Endowment for the Arts’ creative placemaking grants program. It supports projects that integrate arts, culture, and design activities that strengthen communities by advancing local economic, physical, and/or social outcomes.

Successful Our Town projects lay the groundwork for systemic changes that sustain the integration of arts, culture and design into local strategies for strengthening communities.

Projects require a partnership between a local government entity and a cultural organization; and should engage in partnership with other sectors (such as agriculture, economic development, education, environment or workforce development). Cost share/matching grants range from $25,000 to $150,000.

For More Information:
For more information, review How to Do Creative Placemaking  and look at  additional creative placemaking resources  on the NEA website . If you have questions contact the staff at  OT@arts.gov   with your question or to set up a time to speak to staff. 
Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) Program Accepting Proposals

Deadlines: September 30, 2020
Department of the Interior, United States (U.S.) Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Natural Resources and Conservation Planning operates the Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) Program. PFW Program regional and field staff work with partners to identify habitat conservation priorities and delineate geographic focus areas in their Regional strategic plans.

The Partners for Fish and Wildlife program provides direct technical assistance and financial assistance to private landowners to restore and conserve fish and wildlife habitat for the benefit of federal trust resources. Many PFW projects support tribal operations ensuring sovereignty means something.

Program priorities include restoring trust with local communities; modernizing infrastructure and fencing projects; hunting and fishing, including habitat preservation to support robust populations of wildlife for recreational use by the American public; the National Wildlife Refuge System, with a focus on conservation activities and projects on private lands near National Wildlife Refuge lands; and expanding priority habitats, reducing habitat fragmentation, establishing conservation buffers and providing wildlife movement corridors that result in self-sustaining systems. 

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through September 30, 2020.

For More Information
Applicants seeking technical or financial assistance from the PFW Program are requested to consult with the Regional PFW Program office BEFORE developing or submitting an application.
Department of Energy Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs Energy Funding Available

Deadline: July 30, 2020
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs announced up to $15 million in new funding for energy technology on tribal lands to stabilize or reduce energy costs and increase energy security and resiliency for Indian Tribes and tribal members.

DOE is soliciting applications to install energy technology on tribal lands. Specifically, the Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs is soliciting applications to:

  • Install energy generating systems and energy efficiency measures for tribal buildings;
  • Deploy community-scale energy generating systems or energy storage on tribal lands;
  • Install integrated energy systems for autonomous operation (independent of the traditional centralized electric power grid) to power a single facility or multiple essential tribal facilities during emergency situations or for tribal community resilience; or
  • Deploy energy infrastructure or integrated energy systems to electrify tribal buildings.

The intended results of the 50% cost shared projects are to stabilize or reduce energy costs and increase energy security and resiliency for Indian Tribes and tribal members.

 For More Information
For more information, please visit the . For general information or inquiries, please contact OIEPP 's help desk at indianenergy@hq.doe.gov . OIEPP accepts applications for technical assistance at an ongoing basis, to apply contact ie-ta@hq.doe.gov .
DOI Tribal Energy Development Capacity Grant Program Accepting Proposals

Deadline: September 1, 2020
The Department of the Interior's Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED), is soliciting grant proposals for it's Tribal Energy Development Capacity (TEDC) grant program.

The TEDC program seeks to develop the Tribal management, organizational and technical capacity needed to maximize the economic impact of energy resource development on American Indian and Native Alaskan land.

The energy project(s) for which the applicant seeks to build Tribal capacity can be existing or planned, Tribally owned or privately owned. Capacity developing activities include, but are not limited to:

  • Establishment of organizational structure(s) and/or business entity structure(s) capable of engaging in commercial energy development or management activities, including leasing property, meeting lending requirements, entering into standard business contracts, and forming joint venture partnerships;
  • Establishing Tribal business charters under Federal law; corporations formed under Federal, State or Tribal incorporation codes; and Tribal utility authorities under Federal, State or Tribal codes;
  • Development or enhancement of Tribal policies; enactment of Tribal regulations for leasing of surface land for energy development pursuant to the HEARTH Act; establishment of legal infrastructure for business formation; enactment of ordinances to regulate or develop energy resources; and adoption of a secured transactions code or a memorandum of understanding, compact, or letter of intent with the State to register liens attached pursuant to such a code. 

 For More Information
Visit the TEDC program webpage or contact Winter Jojola-Talburt at (720) 407-0668 or winter.jojola-talburt@bia.gov.
USDA Announces COVID Food Assistance Program for Farmers and Ranchers

Deadline: August 28, 2020
AIANTA is providing resources for farmers and ranchers, especially those which have operations that include agritourism (sales directly to the public, farmers markets, farm/ranch stays, harvest festivals, etc).

USDA is providing additional support through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) to farmers and ranchers whose operations have been directly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. CFAP, provides financial assistance to producers of agricultural livestock and commodities who have suffered a five-percent-or-greater price decline or who had losses due to market supply chain disruptions due to COVID-19 and face additional significant market costs. 

To be eligible for payments, a person or legal entity must have an average adjusted gross income of less than $900,000 for tax years 2016, 2017, and 2018. However, if 75 percent of their adjusted gross income comes from farming, ranching, or forestry, the AGI limit of $900,000 does not apply.

There is a payment limitation of $250,000 per person or entity for all commodities combined. USDA is particularly interested in the obtaining information with respect to the following specific categories of agricultural commodities:
  • Nursery Products
  • Aquaculture Products
  • Cut Flowers

For More Information
Producers should apply through their local Farm Service Agency Service Center . A CFAP Call Center is available for one-on-one support, call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee. 
America’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative Announces Accepting Applications

Deadline: July 15, 2020
America’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) is a public-private partnership administered by Reinvestment Fund on behalf of USDA Rural Development to improve access to healthy food in underserved areas.

HFFI provides resources to eligible fresh, healthy food retail and non-retail enterprises to overcome the higher costs and initial barriers to entry in underserved areas. Grants could assist projects with a variety of aspects of retail or enterprise development, renovation and expansion.

The grants will be one-time investments of capital into a food retail or food enterprise project in order to address higher costs and initial barriers to entry in underserved areas across the country. Grants will range from $20,000 to $200,000.

Past tribal recipients include:

  • Apsaalooke Abundance is Here on the Crow Reservation that is working to complete a community-based food assessment and exploring opportunities to improve food access. Technical assistance will advance Apsaalooke Abundance’s work by supporting a community-involved feasibility study for a mobile market or other food retail outlet.
  • The REDCO Food Sovereignty Initiative on the Rosebud Reservation will use the grant to leverage and expand its successful Keya Wakpala Farmer’s Market and explore the economic feasibility and impact of operating a year-round mobile market throughout the region.
  • Buche Foods was awarded the contract by the Oglala Sioux to reopen the grocery store located on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The grant will support the relaunch of the store and will bring stability to a distressed community.

For More Information
The recording of an informational webinar is available at https://www.investinginfood.com/faq/ .If you have a question, send an email to help@investinginfood.com or call (215) 574-5862 and leave a message.
Reminder: ANA Extends SEDS Deadline

Deadline: July 15, 2020
The Administration for Native Americans supports Native American communities by providing financial assistance and capacity building, gathering and sharing data, and advocating for improved policies within HHS and across the federal government. ANA has several programs. to view the funding opportunity announcements click the individual opportunities below:


SEDS grants fund social and economic development projects in on- and off-reservation native communities and provide federal support for self-determination and self-governance among Native American people. SEDS program areas support tourism:

  • Tourism - Planning or developing resources, services, and businesses that promote travel, recreation, and tourism, or branding to tell the story of Native Americans as the First Peoples of the United States. Projects may utilize the arts or other cultural resources to help revitalize Native communities, promote economic development, increase livability, and present the uniqueness of the Native communities to visitors in a way that celebrates the diversity of the United States.

For More Information
ANA provides regional training and technical assistance through regional providers, click here to find your representative. For other questions, call 1-877-922-9262 or email anacomments@acf.hhs.gov .
AIANTA Upcoming Webinar on
EDA Funding Opportunities

Webinar: July 14, 2020

AIANTA has joined with our partners to provide a webinar series on resource development opportunities and tips for success. Each webinar is designed to introduce and equip organizations with the knowledge needed to find and apply for funding opportunities to support cultural heritage tourism development. To register for a webinar, visit the AIANTA Webinar Series webpage and click the To Register button on the webinar of your choosing.

10:00 Mountain Daylight Time on Tuesday, July 14, 2020

To lead the federal economic development agenda EDA partners with Tribal Governments & Tribal Non-Profits and encourages its partners around the country to develop new ideas and creative approaches to address rapidly evolving economic conditions.

For More Information:
To register for a webinar, visit the AIANTA Webinar Series webpage and click the To Register button on the webinar of your choosing. For more information, contact Sherrie Bowman at (505) 209-2479 or sbowman@aianta.org .

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