Title 25—Indians--Volume 1
PART 286—INDIAN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
§ 286.1   Definitions.
As used in this part 286:
Area Director means the Bureau of Indian Affairs official in charge of an area office or his authorized representative.
Assistant Secretary means the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs of the United States Department of the Interior or the official in the Bureau of Indian Affairs to whom the Assistant Secretary has delegated authority to act on behalf of the Assistant Secretary.
Cooperative Association means an association of individuals organized pursuant to state, Federal, or tribal law, for the purpose of owning and operating an economic enterprise for profit with profits distributed or allocated to patrons who are members of the organization.
Corporation means an entity organized pursuant to state, Federal, or tribal law, with or without stock, for the purpose of owning and operating an economic enterprise.
Economic enterprise means any Indian-owned, commercial, industrial, agricultural, or business activity established or organized for the purpose of profit, provided that eligible Indian ownership constitutes not less than 51 per centum of the enterprise.
Grantee(s) means the recipient(s) of a nonreimburseable grant under this part.
Indian means a person who is a member of an Indian tribe or a person of Alaska Native descent who is a shareholder in a corporation organized under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (85 Stat. 688), as amended.
Partnership means a form of business organization in which two or more legal persons are associated as co-owners for the purposes of business or professional activities for private pecuniary gain.
Profits means the net income earned after deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.
Reservation means Indian reservation, California rancheria, public domain Indian allotment, former Indian reservation in Oklahoma, and land held by Alaska Native groups incorporated under the provisions of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (85 Stat. 688), as amended.
Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
Superintendent means the Bureau official in charge of a Bureau agency office or other local office reporting to an Area Director.
Tribe means any Indian tribe, band, nation, rancheria, pueblo, colony or community, including any Alaska Native village or any regional, village, urban or group corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (85 Stat. 688) as amended, which is recognized by the Federal Government as eligible for services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
§ 286.2   Purpose.
The purpose of this part 286 is to prescribe the regulations and procedures under which non-reimbursable grants may be made to eligible applicants to stimulate and increase Indian entrepreneurship and employment through establishment, acquisition or expansion of profit-making Indian-owned economic enterprises which will contribute to the economy of a reservation.
§ 286.3   Eligible applicants.
Applications for grants may be accepted only from individual Indians, Indian tribes, Indian partnerships, corporations or cooperative associations authorized to do business under State, Federal, or Tribal law. These applicants must have a form of organization acceptable to the Assistant Secretary and unable to meet their total financing needs from their own resources and by loans from other sources such as banks, Farmers Home Administration, Small Business Administration, Production Credit Associations, and Federal Land Banks. Associations, corporations or partnerships shall be at least fifty-one percent owned by eligible Indians or an eligible Indian tribe. This Indian ownership must actively participate in the management and operation of the economic enterprise by representation on the board of directors of a corporation or cooperative association proportionate to the Indian ownership which will enable the Indian owner(s) to control management decisions. The legal organization documents will provide for the number of Indians which are to be on the board of directors, how they along with other directors will be elected or appointed and qualifications required as a condition for becoming a member of the board of directors. The legal organization documents shall provide safeguards which will prevent Indian ownership and control from decreasing below fifty-one percent. Evidence of Indian ownership in a cooperative association or corporation will be evidenced by stock ownership, if stock is or has been issued, or by other evidence satisfactory to the Assistant Secretary. Partnerships will be evidenced by written partnership agreements which show the percentage of Indian ownership, role and authority in making management decisions in controlling the operation of the economic enterprise.
§ 286.4   Eligible economic enterprises.
An economic enterprise as defined in § 286.1(k) is eligible to receive equity capital through non-reimbursable grants if it is or will be self-sustaining and profit-oriented and will create employment for Indians. In the case of Indian-owned cooperative associations, they must distribute or allocate profits for later distribution, to members who are patrons, unless prohibited from doing so by law.
§ 286.5   Information collection.
(a) The collections of information contained in §§ 286.12 and 286.22 have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. and assigned clearance number 1076-0093. The information will be used to rate applicants in accordance with the priority criteria listed at 25 CFR 286.8. Response to this request is required to obtain a benefit in accordance with 25 U.S.C. 1521.
(b) Public reporting for this information is estimated to average 45 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Mailstop 337-SIB, 18th and C Streets, NW., Washington, DC 20240; and the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (1076-0093), Washington, DC 20503.
§ 286.6   [Reserved]
§ 286.7   Location of enterprise.
To be eligible for a grant an economic enterprise must be located on an Indian reservation or located where it makes or will make an economic contribution to a nearby reservation by providing employment to tribal members residing thereon or by expending a portion of its income for materials or services on the reservation. Economic enterprises which are or will be operated on a reservation must comply with the requirements of applicable rules, resolutions or ordinances adopted by the governing body of the tribe, if applicable.
§ 286.8   Priority criteria.
The following priority will be used in selecting economic enterprises for grant funding:
(a) First priority. First priority will be given to economic enterprises located on a reservation that will:
(1) Utilize Indian resources, both natural and human.
(2) Create the highest ratio of Indian jobs to the total amount of dollars to be invested, including market value of materials and equipment contributed to the project.
(3) Create the highest ratio of income to a tribe or its members in relation to the total amount of dollars to be invested, including market value of materials or equipment contributed to the project.
(4) Generate the most non-Bureau financing.
(b) Second priority. Second priority will be given to projects located in the immediate vicinity of a reservation that will:
(1) Utilize Indian resources, both natural and human.
(2) Create the highest ratio of Indian jobs to the total amount of dollars to be invested, including market value of materials and equipment contributed to the project.
(3) Generate the most non-Bureau financing.
§ 286.9   Environmental and flood disaster protection.
Grant funds will not be advanced until there is assurance of compliance with any applicable provisions of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 (Pub. L. 93-234), the National Environmental Policy Act (Pub. L. 91-190), 42 U.S.C. 4321 and Executive Order 11514.
§ 286.10   Preservation of historical and archeological data.
The Assistant Secretary before approving a grant where the grant funds and/or the loan funds will be used to finance activities involving excavations, road construction, and land development or involving the disturbance of land on known or reported historical or archeological sites, will take appropriate action to assure compliance with applicable provisions of the Act of June 27, 1960 (74 Stat. 220 (16 U.S.C. 469)), as amended by the Act of May 24, 1974 (Pub. L. 93-291, 88 Stat. 174), relating to the preservation of historical and archeological data.
§ 286.11   Management and technical assistance.
(a) Prior to and concurrent with the making of a grant to finance an Indian economic enterprise, the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs will insure that competent management and technical assistance is available to the grantee in the preparation of the application for a grant and/or administration of the funds granted, consistent with the grantee's knowledge and experience and the nature and complexity of the economic enterprise being financed. The competence of the management and technical assistance provided will be determined by the local agency superintendent after consultation with the applicant concerning his business needs.
(b) The lender providing the loan funds under § 286.17(b) to finance an economic enterprise will include with the grantee's application the need for equity capital, the lender's evaluation of the applicant's need for management and technical assistance, specific areas of need and whether the lender will provide such assistance to the applicant.
§ 286.12   Content of application.
Applications shall be on a form prescribed by the Assistant Secretary which shall at the minimum include:
(a) Total capital requirement, including operating capital required until such time as the cash generated from operations will be sufficient to make the enterprise self-sustaining.
(b) Amount of total financing required as well as what is obtainable from other sources, including the applicant's personal resources, and a statement of terms and conditions under which any borrowed portion is obtainable.
(c) Capital deficiency, which will be the basis for the amount of grant requested.
(d) Pro forma balance sheets and operating statements showing estimated expenses, income and net profit from operations for three years following receipt of the requested grant.
(e) Annual operating statements and balance sheets, audited if available, for the prior two years or applicable years for enterprises already in operation.
(f) Current financial statements, consisting of a balance sheet and operating statement.
(g) A plan of operation which shall be acceptable to the lender making the loan and the Assistant Secretary.
§§ 286.13-286.14   [Reserved]
§ 286.15   Application procedures.
Applications are to be submitted to the Superintendent having administrative jurisdiction over the reservation on which an enterprise will be or is located. If the enterprise site is near two or more reservations, application is to be made to the Superintendent having administrative jurisdiction over the reservation nearest to the location of the enterprise which the enterprise will benefit economically.
§ 286.16   Grant approval authority.
Applications for grants require approval by the Assistant Secretary.
§ 286.17   Grant limitations and requirements.
(a) Grants will be made to assist in establishing new economic enterprises, or in purchasing or expanding established ones. However, a grant may be made only when in the opinion of the Assistant Secretary the applicant is unable to obtain adequate financing from other sources. Prior to making any grant, the Assistant Secretary shall assure that, to the extent practical, the applicant's own resources have been invested in the proposed project. The applicant shall not be required to invest own resources to the extent that they are already committed to endeavors deemed by the Assistant Secretary to be essential to the welfare of the applicant. If the information in an application, which must include personal financial statements, indicates that it may be possible for the applicant to obtain financing without a grant, the Assistant Secretary will require the applicant to furnish letters from two customary lenders in the area, if available, who are making loans for similar purpose, showing whether or not they will make a loan to the applicant for the total financing needed without a grant.
(b) A grant may be made only to an applicant who is able to obtain at least 75 percent of the necessary financing from other sources.
(c) No grant in excess of $250,000 may be made to an Indian tribe or in excess of $100,000 to an Indian individual, partnership, corporation, or cooperative association.
(d) Revolving loan funds as prescribed in title I of the Indian Financing Act of 1974 and guaranteed or insured loans as prescribed in title II of said Act may not be used as the sources of the loan portion of the total financing requirement if financing from other governmental or institutional lenders is available on reasonable terms and conditions. If a loan is not available from other sources, guaranteed or insured loans under the provisions of title II of said Act may then be considered. If a guaranteed or insured loan is not available loans under the provisions of title I of said Act may then be considered. Applicants for a loan from either source must meet the eligibility requirements for such loans.
(e) A grant will not be approved unless there is assurance the applicant can and will be provided with needed competent technical and management assistance commensurate with the nature of the enterprise to be funded and the knowledge and management skills of the applicant.
(f) Grant funds may not be used for refinancing or debt consolidation unless approval is justified and required due to the applicant's financial position and is clearly to the advantage of the grant applicant.
(g) Ordinarily, not more than one grant will be made for a project. Nevertheless, in certain circumstances a second grant may be made to applicants for a new project or expansion of the original project. An additional grant will not be approved for an economic enterprise previously funded under the provisions of title IV of the Indian Financing Act of 1974 except for expanding a successful enterprise, provided the total of grants made shall not exceed $250,000 to an Indian tribe and $100,000 to an Indian individual, partnership, corporation, or cooperative association.
(h) An application for a second grant will not be approved if the applicant:
(1) Has not complied with the reporting requirements in connection with the first grant, or
(2) Has not followed the plan of operation, if any, developed for the management and operation of the economic enterprise, or
(3) Did not follow and use the management and technical assistance furnished, or
(4) Is in violation of one or more provisions of the loan agreement entered into between the applicant and the lender who furnished the loan portion of the financing in connection with the first grant.
(i) An applicant for an expansion grant must meet the same eligibility requirements as an original applicant.
(j) A grantee will be required to return all or a portion of the grant if the business or enterprise for which the grant was utilized is sold within three years of the date on which the grant was disbursed to the grantee, unless the proceeds from the sale are re-invested in a new business or business expansion which will benefit the Indian reservation economy. Such sale and re-investment must have the prior approval of the local agency superintendent. The grantee shall refund the lessor of the grant amount or a pro rata portion of sales proceeds. The pro rata portion of sales proceeds shall be based on the ratio of grant amount to its corresponding matching financing. The new business or business expansion utilizing such sale proceeds must meet the same criteria for eligibility as an original grant.
§ 286.18   Written notice.
The applicant for a grant which is disapproved will be notified by letter, stating the reasons for disapproval and the right of appeal pursuant to 25 CFR 2. A copy of the letter will be sent to the prospective lender.
§ 286.19   [Reserved]
§ 286.20   Disbursement of grant funds.
Unless otherwise provided by an agreement between a lender and the grantee, the Assistant Secretary may in his discretion advance grant funds directly to a grantee. He may require the funds to be deposited in a special account at the appropriate Agency headquarters office or deposited in a joint account in a bank and disbursed as needed by the grantee. The terms of a lender's loan agreement may require the lender's approval before disbursement of the funds. Grant funds will not be disbursed to a grantee until the Assistant Secretary has been informed by the lender that a loan has been approved for the grantee in the amount of the loan financing needed.
§ 286.21   Return of unused funds.
Grantees will be required to return unused grant funds to the Assistant Secretary if the economic enterprise for which the grant was approved is not initiated, i.e., lease obtained, if needed, construction started, equipment purchased or other, within the time stated in the grant agreement. The Assistant Secretary may, if warranted by circumstances beyond the control of the grantee, extend the time to allow for initiation of the enterprise, provided there is assurance the enterprise will be initiated forthwith within the extended time period. The Assistant Secretary will notify the lender in writing of a proposed action to require the return of grant funds or of a proposal to extend the time.
§ 286.22   Reports.
(a) Grantees are required to furnish the Assistant Secretary comparative balance sheets and profit and loss statements semi-annually for the first two years of operation following receipt of the grant, and annually thereafter for the succeeding three years. These may be copied of financial statements required by and furnished to the lender which provided the loan portion of the total financing required. If the lender does not require financial statements, the grantee must prepare and furnish copies of comparative balance sheets and profit and loss statements to the Assistant Secretary.
(b) The Assistant Secretary will establish accounting and reporting systems which will appropriately show the status of the Indian Business Development Program at all times.