SSBCI 

IMPLEMENTATION 

SNAPSHOT: 

STATE SMALL BUSINESS 

CREDIT INITIATIVE FOR 

TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS

December 2023
SSBCI IMPLEMENTATION SNAPSHOT: STATE SMALL BUSINESS CREDIT INITIATIVE FOR TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS 1

SSBCI IMPLEMENTATION SNAPSHO

STATE SMALL BUSINESS CREDIT INITIATIVE FOR TRIBAL GOVE

December 7, 2023

PROGRAM OVERVIE

Reauthorized and expanded by President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, the State Small Business Credit 

Initiative (SSBCI) supports small businesses and entrepreneurship in communities across the United States, 

including Tribal Nations, by providing capital and technical assistance to promote small business stability, 

growth, and success. SSBCI will provide up to $500 million to Tribal governments for programs that catalyze 

lending and investing in small businesses, and fund technical assistance for eligible businesses applying for 

SSBCI and other governmental programs that support small businesses. 

The funds allocated for Tribal Nations within the State Small Business Credit Initiative represent the largest 

and most expansive one-time federal investment to support small business financing in Tribal communities. 

This historic investment provides important resources to support Tribes in achieving self-determined economic 

development goals in their communities. SSBCI allocations may be used to support both Tribal enterprises 

– businesses owned by Tribal governments – and small businesses owned by members of the Tribe, either in 

or outside Indian Country. The program is designed to partner with financial institutions, nonprofit lenders 

like community development financial institutions (CDFIs), investors, and other sources of private capital – 

and plays an important role in catalyzing new access to credit within Tribal lands. Often, small businesses on 

reservations face barriers to accessing conventional capital, with few banking partners or investors active in 

these communities compared to the nearby non-Tribal markets, and this is reflected in business ownership 

data. American Indian and Alaska-Native owned businesses comprised less than 1% of all employer firms in 

2020, despite making up nearly 3% of the U.S. population.1 SSBCI allocations can be used by Tribes to bypass 

these barriers and increase business ownership by designing programs that offer credit enhancements or 

investment to leverage private capital investment in small businesses owned by members of Tribes.

In addition to expanding access to critical financing for private businesses, SSBCI can support Tribal enterprises 

alongside private capital. Tribal governments have addressed disproportionately high unemployment2 and 

poverty among Tribal communities by building businesses3 that employ hundreds of thousands of individuals 

and generate billions in spillover economic benefits for state and regional economies4. These Tribal enterprises 

are key to generating revenue that supports provision of public services in Tribal lands, while small businesses 

owned by members of Tribes contribute jobs, goods and services, and tax revenue to the local economy. 

SSBCI-supported transactions can help expand these efforts, resulting in meaningful community and economic 

development benefits for Tribes, including investments in eligible businesses that lead to improvements in 

housing, infrastructure, community facilities and services, and energy resources. 

1 U.S. Census 2021 Annual Business Survey (ABS)

2 Economic Development | NCAI

3 Examining tribal enterprises to understand Native economic development | Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis (minneapolisfed.org)

4 The Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development and Native Nations Institute at the University of Arizona: COVID-19 

Response and Recovery Policy Briefs; Policy Brief No. 4
2 SSBCI IMPLEMENTATION SNAPSHOT: STATE SMALL BUSINESS CREDIT INITIATIVE FOR TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS

PROGRAM DESIG

SSBCI includes two programs: the Capital Program and the Technical Assistance (TA) Grant Program. Under the 

Capital Program, participating jurisdictions implement credit and equity/venture capital programs to provide 

capital to small businesses. Under the TA Grant Program, Treasury supports programs that provide legal, 

accounting, or financial advisory services to qualifying small businesses. 

Jurisdictions, including Tribal governments, designed their SSBCI Capital Programs to include one or more of 

the credit and/or equity/ venture capital programs below. 

•	 Capital Access Programs provide portfolio insurance in the form of a loan loss reserve fund into which 

the lender and borrower contribute. 

•	 Collateral Support Programs provide cash collateral to improve small business’ ability to borrow funds 

to grow a business. 

•	 Loan Guarantee Programs support private loans that may have otherwise been inaccessible or 

prohibitively expensive by agreeing to reduce the lender’s exposure on a loan. 

•	 Loan Participation Programs provide credit support through the purchase of a portion of a loan made 

by a lender or through a direct loan alongside a private lender. 

•	 Equity/Venture Capital Programs provide capital in the form of equity investments to underserved 

startups and investors.

IMPLEMENTATION STATUS – SSBCI CAPITAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PR

To date, the Treasury Department has received applications from over 280 eligible Tribal government applicants 

for the SSBCI Capital Program, including consortia applications in which multiple Tribal governments have 

applied jointly, and totaling over $500 million in funding. The allocations for these applications range in size 

from just over $600,000 to $88.7 million, with each Tribal government presenting a plan that will best serve the 

needs of their respective communities. As of December 7, 2023, 33 applications totaling over $159 million and 

representing 63 Tribal governments have been approved by Treasury. 

The deadline for Tribal governments to apply for the SSBCI Technical Assistance Program was October 27, 2023. 

The Treasury Department is currently reviewing these applications, which are a key complement to funds made 

available by the Capital Program. 
SSBCI IMPLEMENTATION SNAPSHOT: STATE SMALL BUSINESS CREDIT INITIATIVE FOR TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS 3

PROGRAM AND TRANSACTION SPOTLIGHT

SSBCI CAPITAL PROGRAM TRANSACTIONS 

TRIBES MENTIONED BY STATE

Chickasaw:

Ada, Oklahoma 

Karuk Tribe: 

Humboldt and Siskiyou 

Counties, California 

Scotts Valley Band 

of Pomo Indians 

of California: 

Lake County, California

Ninilchik Village: 

Kenai Peninsula Borough, 

Alaska 

The Ninilchik Village Tribe

Located in the remote southern part of the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska, the Ninilchik Village Tribe is a 

community of just over 1,000 members. The Tribe has long been a steward of Ninilchik’s ancestral lands. 

Today, Ninilchik also provides public services to members and works to grow the local economy for residents.

Part of that work is through owning and operating Tribal enterprise Tuyan LLC, a joint venture between the 

Ninilchik Village and the Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc. (CITC). Tuyan is a contracting company that provides 

geophysical engineering services. As a Tribal enterprise, revenue earned by Tuyan is used to support 

Ninilchik’s workforce development, youth education, addiction and recovery support, and family services. 

Ivan Encelewski, Executive Director of the 

Ninilchik Traditional Council, said about 

the investment, “We believe this investment 

will be absolutely profound in its impact 

for our people. The beauty of Tuyan is that 

it represents a new opportunity for an 

Alaskan tribe, showcases the importance of 

partnerships, and provides for a direct return 

to support the mission of our indigenous 

peoples. We are very proud of this investment 

and what it will do for generations to come.”

5 These spotlights reflect applications, programs, and success stories as represented to Treasury. Please note that Treasury does not 

endorse any specific businesses or program designs over others. 
4 SSBCI IMPLEMENTATION SNAPSHOT: STATE SMALL BUSINESS CREDIT INITIATIVE FOR TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS

Growing a company that provides contracting services presents a unique set of challenges; from bidding 

on and securing the project, to accessing working capital to deliver the contracted services, resourcing a 

contracting business can be difficult. The right financing is key to the company’s success. 

When Ninilchik Village applied to Treasury for its $689,038 SSBCI allocation, the Tribe had a clear vision about 

the best and highest use of the funds: They wanted to invest in Tuyan—and in turn, in their community. The 

Tribe’s allocation will be committed to Tuyan and will leverage private funds acquired through the Tribe and 

CITC’s other commercial activity. The investment will be provided as an equity instrument, providing the 

company a repayment method that is more suitable to the business’ operations and revenue cycle. 

This SSBCI investment will allow Tuyan to hire staff and engineers, and expand the services offered by the 

business. Tuyan will create at least eight new engineering and project management roles in the years to 

come. The company will also use the funds to create a new business line: They will build a commercial side to 

the business, which will enable the company to offer services to the general public, in addition to government 

contracting opportunities. With expansions across the team and their service offerings, the company is poised 

for growth – and has already secured extensions of existing contracts based on the additional capacity this 

investment will provide. 

Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Economic Development Corporation 

and Twenty-Five Tribal Governments

The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Economic Development Corporation (ATNI-EDC) serves Tribes across 

Oregon, Idaho, Washington, southeast Alaska, northern California and Western Montana. With a mission to 

support ATNI Member Tribes and Tribal Citizens to achieve economic prosperity, ATNI-EDC provides loans and 

financial services to companies owned and led by Tribal Citizens and Tribes across the region. 

When Treasury announced the availability of State Small Business Credit Initiative capital to support Tribal 

governments’ small business financing programs, Tribal governments across the nation saw an opportunity 

collaborate with other Tribes – both members of ATNI and others in the region – in a joint consortium 

application led by ANTI-EDC.
SSBCI IMPLEMENTATION SNAPSHOT: STATE SMALL BUSINESS CREDIT INITIATIVE FOR TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS 5

Twenty-five Tribes across the Western United States designated ATNI-EDC to submit a joint application 

totaling $22.9 million. Administering the SSBCI capital programs through a single administering entity, 

ATNI-EDC, will reduce administrative burden on individual Tribes by centralizing the necessary reporting, 

monitoring, oversight, and deployment requirements. This program design allows each member Tribe to 

access their respective allocations to further their unique economic development goals – including allowing 

each Tribe to select small businesses owned by Tribal members or to invest in Tribal enterprises. 

The joint applicants’ SSBCI capital program portfolio consists of three distinct programs, each with strategic 

goals for growing the economic vibrancy and prosperity of participating Tribes: two loan participation 

programs and a loan guarantee program. 

The Loan Participation for Tribal Entrepreneurs program, with an allocation of up to $7.6 million, will provide 

companion loans to Native American-owned and -led small businesses. These loans aim to attract private 

lending dollars, providing capital to grow the businesses as well as building the capacity of partner lenders to 

lend in Tribal Lands. 

The Loan Participation Program for Tribal Bridge Financing Projects, with an allocation of up to $12 million, 

is designed to provide pre-development capital for Tribal enterprises in the form of companion loans. The 

program will align with the ATNI-EDC’s long-term economic development goals by giving special consideration 

to projects in the clean energy sector or to projects that help navigate climate change challenges. 

Finally, the Loan Guarantee Program, with an allocation of $2.2 million, has a specific focus: to increase 

lending in Tribal Lands. The program guarantees new credit extended by regulated lenders with the goal 

of encouraging traditional financial institutions to underwrite more loans with Tribal enterprises and 

entrepreneurs in Tribal communities. 

ATNI-EDC is currently deploying these programs and building the foundation to support future transactions. 

The consortium’s first transaction supported the Salmon River Outpost in Somes Bar, California – a business 

owned by a wife-and-husband team, Elaina and Joe O’Rourke, who are tribal members of the Karuk and 

Yurok Tribes respectively. The Salmon River Outpost is a general store and a hub of the rural community, and 

is located within Karuk ancestral territory and near the upriver portion of the Yurok Reservation. The store, 

located in a food desert, recently teamed up with the Karuk Tribe’s Tishaniik Farm to distribute locally grown 

produce, with all proceeds going back to the farm— and providing access to fresh food for the neighboring 

Tribal and non-Tribal communities. The SSBCI transaction to support acquisition of the land and building 

totaled $250,000 and was matched by a further $250,000 in private capital, alongside other, non-SSBCI capital 

provided for working capital. 

The consortium, with ATNI-EDC’s support and collaboration, will meet regularly to share best practices in not 

only SSBCI transactions, but also economic development projects more broadly. Representatives from each 

Tribe hope to form a community of practice and to collaborate on complementary projects – partnering to 

further economic activity in Tribal Lands while exercising Tribal self-determination.
6 SSBCI IMPLEMENTATION SNAPSHOT: STATE SMALL BUSINESS CREDIT INITIATIVE FOR TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS

The Chickasaw Nation 

The Chickasaw Nation’s territory includes 7,648 square miles and encompasses all or part of 13 counties in 

south-central Oklahoma. The Chickasaw Nation was allocated up to $16 million in SSBCI funding to lend to or 

invest in small businesses – which the Chickasaw Nation hopes will benefit Chickasaw business owners and 

other qualifying underserved businesses today and in future generations. 

The Chickasaw Nation is focused on the long-term opportunity provided by SSBCI: a funding source that, if 

carefully managed, could be a continuing resource well into the future after the program’s completion. As 

Undersecretary Rachel Wood notes, “Our hope is to use SSBCI funds to create a launchpad for Chickasaw 

businesses for many years to come.” 

“Since time immemorial, the Chickasaw people have been in trade and business. In recent decades, the 

Chickasaw Nation has developed a diverse and robust portfolio of businesses to allow us to adapt and expand 

vital programs, services and opportunities for the Chickasaw people,” said Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill 

Anoatubby. “This new initiative will enable us to expand our efforts to offer new opportunities to individual 

entrepreneurs striving to develop thriving businesses.”  

Focused on the sustainability of SSBCI funds, the Chickasaw Nation created a two-pronged approach to 

its SSBCI programming. The Chickasaw Collateral Support Program will provide cash collateral deposits 

to lenders to support small businesses with collateral shortfalls. The Chickasaw Nation will partner with, 

Chickasaw Community Bank, a full-service bank and a native community development financial institution, 

as an approved lender in the program. The Chickasaw Venture Capital Fund is a venture capital program 

which will provide investment capital to venture capital funds which will invest in seed early-stage companies 

owned by Chickasaw citizens, underserved small businesses, and other qualifying entrepreneurs. 
SSBCI IMPLEMENTATION SNAPSHOT: STATE SMALL BUSINESS CREDIT INITIATIVE FOR TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS 7

Minority Business Development Agency’s Capital Readiness Program Awardees 

Serving Tribal Entrepreneurs 

In addition to the SSBCI Capital and Technical Assistance programs, the Minority Business Development Agency 

(MDBA)’s Capital Readiness Program (CRP) provides funding to support incubators and accelerators in providing 

critical technical assistance and access to capital and networks. Funded by SSBCI, MBDA’s CRP is focused 

on services to help minority and other underserved entrepreneurs gain critical skills to grow and scale their 

businesses. Several CRP awardees place a specific emphasis on helping Tribal, Indigenous, and Native American 

entrepreneurs, including the Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc., and the Native American Development Corporation, 

highlighted below.

Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc.

Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc. (CITC) is an Anchorage-based Tribal nonprofit with a mission to support the 

Alaskan Native/American Indian (AI/AN) people of the Cook Inlet Region by providing education, social and 

economic services, including incubator and accelerator services to AI/AN entrepreneurs and otherwise 

underserved small businesses. 

CITC will use the Capital Readiness Program funding to support entrepreneurs in launching and/or growing 

investable and scalable businesses – in particular, they will support companies with goals of raising capital, 

growing the business, and building underserved communities. Throughout the performance period, CITC and its 

partners plan to utilize a start-up training curriculum, provide hands-on prototyping opportunities with referrals 

to advanced manufacturing resources, deliver technical assistance to entrepreneurs and small businesses, and 

offer targeted networking opportunities to connect businesses to resources in the ecosystem. 

The Native American Development Corporation

The Native American Development Corporation (NADC) serves as a hub for American Indian businesses. NADC 

provides technical assistance and capital access resources, and champions small businesses and tribes to 

empower Indian communities toward economic and social stability. 

With its Capital Readiness Program funding, NADC will offer programming to build on cultural strengths, address 

unique challenges faced by Native entrepreneurs, and improve the economic vibrancy of the Native American 

communities NADC serves. Entrepreneurs will have access to a supportive network of tools and resources 

to accelerate the success of private sector Native-owned businesses. These services will support businesses 

that are applying, have previously applied, or plan to apply to an SSBCI capital program or other government 

program that supports small businesses.

LEARN MORE

In the months and years to come, the Treasury Department will continue to support participating jurisdictions, 

including Tribal governments, in implementing their SSBCI Capital and Technical Assistance Programs, and 

looks forward to continued partnership with states, territories, D.C., and Tribal governments in expanding 

access to capital for small businesses. Please see State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) | U.S. Department 

of the Treasury for further information on SSBCI programs by jurisdiction, policy guidelines, frequently asked 

questions, and other resources.
8 SSBCI IMPLEMENTATION SNAPSHOT: STATE SMALL BUSINESS CREDIT INITIATIVE FOR TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS

Appendix A: Approved Programs

Announced June 2023

The group of 25 tribal governments applying jointly through the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians 

Economic Development Corporation (ATNI-EDC), approved for up to $21 million, will operate three 

programs – a loan guarantee program (LGP) and two loan participation programs (LPP).  The Burns Paiute 

Tribe submitted the joint application on behalf of the multiple Tribal governments. The Tribal Bridge 

Financing Program (TBFP), an LPP program allocated approximately $12.1 million, will provide companion 

loans as pre-development capital for Tribal enterprises. The TBFP program gives special consideration 

for projects impacted by climate change. The Loan Participation for Tribal entrepreneurs (LPTE), an LPP 

program allocated approximately $7.7 million, will provide companion loans to Tribal entrepreneurs. 

The Chickasaw Nation, approved for up to $16.0 million, will operate two programs; a collateral support 

program and a venture capital program. Each program will be allocated $8 million. The collateral program 

will provide support to small businesses seeking debt financing with a gap in collateral. The venture 

capital program will make limited partner investments in seed and early-stage focused venture funds to 

support growth in underserved small businesses.  

Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Oklahoma, approved for up to $8,066,643, will operate one loan 

participation program. The Citizen Potawatomi Community Development Corporation (CPCDC) Loan 

Participation Program expands on an existing CPCDC program with multiple participation models 

including both purchased participations and companion loans. The program will target small businesses 

among Native Americans or Citizen Potawatomi Nation employees in Oklahoma and across the U.S 

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, approved for up to $869,823 will operate three 

programs, a collateral support program (CSP), a loan guarantee program (LGP), and a loan participation 

program (LPP).  The Small & Micro Business Loans LPP program will provide up to 50% participation in 

eligible loans primarily through companion (direct) loans. The program will target Tribal member and 

Native American-owned businesses, including in retail and food service industries, among others.

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, approved for up to $3.5 million, will operate one program, a loan 

guarantee program (LGP). The program will meet the needs of Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians small 

businesses applying for loans of up to $750K that would not otherwise qualify for private financing due to 

collateral requirements. They anticipate serving small businesses in the construction, service, hospitality, 

food service and craft industries. 

The Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope, approved for up to $2.9 million, will operate one program, 

an equity/venture capital program. Through this program, the ICAS Economic Development Department 

will administer an equity/venture capital investment program for tribally owned small businesses. 

These investments will be strategic in their ability to elevate infrastructure, services and commodities 

throughout the North Slope while respecting Inupiat ways of life.

Levelock Village, approved for up to $627,054, will operate one equity/venture capital program. Levelock 

Village will invest in new or existing wholly-owned tribal businesses serving the tribal community, 

targeting businesses in the fishing industry.
SSBCI IMPLEMENTATION SNAPSHOT: STATE SMALL BUSINESS CREDIT INITIATIVE FOR TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS 9

Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, approved for up to $1.99 million, will operate a loan participation 

program. The MITW Business Loan Program will either purchase a portion of a loan originated by a lender 

or originate a companion loan. The program will target businesses owned by Tribal members, chartered 

by the Menominee Tribe, and businesses located on the Menominee reservation. 

Ninilchik Village, approved for up to $689,038, will operate one program: an equity/venture capital 

program. Ninilchik Village projects it will make direct co-investments into Tuyan, a small business focused 

on providing engineering services. 

The Osage Nation, approved for up to $5,092,326, will operate three programs: one loan participation 

program, one collateral support program, and one equity/venture capital program. The Osage Nation 

through the SSBCI program will provide credit and investment support to start-up small businesses in the 

healthcare, tourism, and technology industries, amongst other industries.

Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians of California, approved for up to $631,387.00, will operate an equity/

venture capital program. The direct equity investment program will target new or existing wholly-owned 

Tribal small businesses. 

Redding Rancheria, California, approved for up to $639,552, will operate one program, an equity/venture 

capital program. The program will target small businesses wholly owned by RRTG. 

Rosebud Sioux Tribe of the Rosebud Indian Reservation, South Dakota, approved for up to $7.8 million, 

will operate one program, a loan participation program (LPP). The Siċaŋġu Business Opportunity Fund will 

purchase participation in loans made by regional banks, CDFIs, private investors and foundations, and facilitate 

connections between Siċaŋġu businesses and these lenders. The program will target established Siċaŋġu 

entrepreneurs and tribally-owned businesses along with emerging very small businesses on the reservation. 

Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, approved for up to $724,528, will operate a loan participation 

program (LPP). The LPP will purchase participations or make companion loans of up to 50% of principal 

loan amounts and will target tribally-owned enterprises and tribal member-owned enterprises, including 

start-ups. 

Yurok Tribe of the Yurok Reservation, California, approved for up to $1,406,081, will operate two loan 

participation programs. The Tribe will originate small dollar loan participations through an authorized 

CDFI, as well as participate in loans alongside traditional lenders. 

Announced December 2023

Akiak Native Community, approved for up to $647,000, will operate one program, an equity/venture 

capital program. The program will invest in new wholly owned Tribal businesses, targeting an investment 

in a wholly owned startup business capable of competing for federal grants and offering needed services 

to the Tribal community.
10 SSBCI IMPLEMENTATION SNAPSHOT: STATE SMALL BUSINESS CREDIT INITIATIVE FOR TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS

Cachil DeHe Band of Wintun Indians of the Colusa Indian Community of the Colusa Rancheria, 

California, approved for up to $615 thousand, will operate one program, an equity/venture capital 

program. The program will make direct equity investments in wholly-owned tribal businesses with a focus 

on tourism and hospitality.

Caddo Nation of Oklahoma, approved for up to $1.4 million, will operate one program, an equity/venture 

capital program. The program will target existing wholly-owned Tribal businesses engaged in retail and 

convenience services, as well as new businesses engaged in meat processing, construction services, 

contracting, and clean energy related services, including environmental waste digesters, electric vehicle 

recharging stations and other similar businesses.

Cahuilla Band of Indians, approved for up to $646 thousand, will operate one program, a loan 

participation program (LPP). The program will purchase participation in loans made by local lenders 

targeting tribal-owned enterprises and tribal member-owned enterprises to expand or start up a new 

small businesses. Emphasis will be placed on eligible small businesses and tribal enterprises that can 

create jobs for tribal members both on and off the reservation.

The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of the Cheyenne River Reservation, South Dakota, approved for up 

to $4,937,944, will operate one capital access program (CAP). The CAP Program anticipates expanding 

the availability of credit to small businesses in the retail food, landfill, trucking, agriculture, and 

communications industries. The Tribe expects this credit support will expand opportunities for tribal 

entrepreneurship while addressing historically high rates of unemployment and poverty experienced by 

the Cheyenne River Sioux members.

The Comanche Nation of Oklahoma, approved for up to $3,882,828, will operate one loan participation 

program (LPP). The program will meet the needs of the Comanche Nation by providing much needed 

credit support for tribal member-owned small businesses located throughout Oklahoma while providing 

jobs for tribal members both on and off the Comanche reservation. The LPP Program anticipates 

serving small businesses in the construction, business services, energy, and agriculture industries with 

the expectation that this credit support will also lead to improvements in tribal roads, buildings, other 

infrastructure, energy production, food security, community support, and workforce development.

Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin, approved for up to $1.8 

million, will operate one program, a loan participation program (LPP). The program will allow purchased 

participations in a loan originated by a lender, or origination of a companion loan. The program will 

prioritize businesses owned by tribal members living within reservation boundaries but will be available 

to businesses owned by tribal members living off reservation in WI, and non-tribal member owned 

underserved businesses operating on or near reservation boundaries. In addition, majority or whollyowned enterprises of the Lac Courte Oreilles tribe are also eligible to participate in equity/venture capital 

program. The program will invest in new wholly-owned Tribal businesses, targeting an investment in a 

wholly-owned startup business capable of competing for federal grants and offering needed services to 

the Tribal community.
SSBCI IMPLEMENTATION SNAPSHOT: STATE SMALL BUSINESS CREDIT INITIATIVE FOR TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS 11

A group of 7 Tribal governments applying jointly through the Native American Development 

Corporation (NADC), approved for up to $6.5 million, will operate two programs, a collateral support 

program (CSP) and a loan participation program (LPP). The Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of 

Montana submitted the joint application on behalf of the multiple Tribal governments. The LPP program will 

use companion/direct loans (preferred) and purchase participations originated by lenders, including CDFIs, 

and loans will be made to both tribal enterprises and native-owned enterprises from the participating tribes. 

The participating Tribes are located in areas of Montana, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Virginia, and California, 

but have many members located across the country. The participating tribes have a common belief that 

well financed private enterprises can help build a more balanced economy for their Nation and are working 

closely with the Native American Development Corporation to address their diverse business lending needs. 

Miccosukee Tribe of Indians, approved for up to $656,963, will operate a loan participation program 

(LPP). The LPP will make companion loans of up to 35% of the principal loan amount and will target small 

businesses.

The Minnesota Chippewa - Bois Forte Band, approved for up to $904,480, will operate one loan 

participation program (LPP), one loan guarantee program (LGP), and one collateral support program 

(CSP). These three programs will meet the needs of the Minnesota Chippewa - Bois Forte Band by 

providing much needed credit support for small businesses that are at least 25 percent owned by a tribal 

member or first-generation descendant. The programs anticipate serving small businesses in the retail, 

arts, recreation, and personal care industries. The Tribe expects that the loan programs will improve the 

economic opportunities for tribal members and tribally-owned businesses and help generate additional 

tax revenue for the Minnesota Chippewa - Bois Forte Band.

The Minnesota Chippewa - Fond Du Lac Band, approved for up to $956,633, will operate one loan 

participation program (LPP), one loan guarantee program (LGP), and one collateral support program 

(CSP). These three programs will meet the needs of the Minnesota Chippewa - Fond Du Lac Band by 

providing much needed credit support for small businesses that are at least 25 percent owned by a tribal 

member or first-generation descendant. The programs anticipate serving small businesses in the retail, 

arts, recreation, personal care, trucking, logging, fishing, photography, media services, and restaurant 

industries. The Tribe expects that the loan programs will improve the economic opportunities for tribal 

members and tribally-owned businesses.

The Minnesota Chippewa - Grand Portage Band, approved for up to $695,786, will operate one loan 

participation program (LPP), one loan guarantee program (LGP), and one collateral support program 

(CSP). These three programs will meet the needs of the Minnesota Chippewa - Grand Portage Band by 

providing much needed credit support for small businesses that are at least 25 percent owned by a tribal 

member or first-generation descendant. The programs anticipate serving small businesses in the retail, 

arts, recreation, personal care, trucking, logging, fishing, photography, media services, and restaurant 

industries. The Tribe expects that the loan programs will improve the economic opportunities for tribal 

members and tribally-owned businesses.
12 SSBCI IMPLEMENTATION SNAPSHOT: STATE SMALL BUSINESS CREDIT INITIATIVE FOR TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS

Minnesota Chippewa - White Earth Band, approved for up to $3,883,494.00, will operate two programs, a 

collateral support program (CSP) and a loan participation program (LPP). Both the CSP program, allocated 

$800,000, and the LPP program, allocated just over $3 million, will target small businesses that need 

working capital, equipment, inventory, or other eligible business expenses and are located on the White 

Earth Reservation or tribally owned or controlled. 

The Omaha Tribe of Nebraska, approved for up to $1,535,581, will operate one loan participation 

program (LPP). The program will meet the needs of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska by providing much 

needed credit support for tribal member-owned small businesses and jobs for members of the Tribe and 

residents of the surrounding community. The LPP Program anticipates serving small businesses in the 

renewable energy, construction, technology, and agriculture industries.

San Pasqual Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of California, approved for up to $620,889.00, will operate 

one loan participation program. The program will target loans to tribally-owned enterprises, tribal memberowned businesses, Native Americans living on the reservation, and tribal members living off the reservation in 

order to provide for transactions that lead to job opportunities and provide benefits to the tribe.

The Choctaw Nation, Oklahoma, approved for up to $44,981,736, will operate three programs: one 

loan participation program (LPP), one collateral support program (CSP), and one equity direct program. 

The programs will provide critical access to capital to traditionally underserved small businesses in the 

Choctaw Nation reservation. The programs anticipate serving a wide variety of small businesses with 

specific emphasis on financing start-ups and innovation-focused industries. The overarching goal of the 

Choctaw Nation’s programs is to collectively build a strong reservation economy, fostering sustained 

growth that not only generates employment opportunities but also elevates wages, improves living 

standards, and addresses barriers to capital access for underserved communities and startups lacking 

established banking relationships.”

The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, approved for up to $4,139,833, will operate three programs: one loan 

participation program (LPP), one collateral support program (CSP), and one equity direct program. These 

programs will meet the needs of the Seminole Nation by providing much needed credit support for tribalowned, tribal member-owned, and non-member-owned small businesses within the Seminole Nation’s 

jurisdiction. The programs anticipates serving small businesses across multiple industries with the equity 

direct program focused specifically on food sovereignty and energy industries. Collectively, the intended 

result of the Seminole Nation’s programs will be job creation and overcoming barriers to capital access 

faced by tribal members.

Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota, approved for up to $7.2 million, will 

operate one program, a loan participation program (LPP). The program will purchase participations of 

up to 50% of senior loans and will partner with a local bank to originate loans. The tribe expects to work 

with more than 300 identified small businesses, other entrepreneurs, and agricultural producers who will 

receive business training and assistance to secure a loan.
SSBCI IMPLEMENTATION SNAPSHOT: STATE SMALL BUSINESS CREDIT INITIATIVE FOR TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS 13

Appendix B: Joint Application Consortia Members 

Burns Paiute Tribe

Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria, California

Big Lagoon Rancheria, California

Blue Lake Rancheria, California

Burns Paiute Tribe

Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria, California

Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation

Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation 

Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation

Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon

Hoopa Valley Tribe, California

Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe

Karuk Tribe

Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians, California

Makah Indian Tribe of the Makah Indian Reservation

Muckleshoot Indian Tribe

Nez Perce Tribe

Nooksack Indian Tribe

Quechan Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation, California & Arizona

Resighini Rancheria, California

Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians of California

Skokomish Indian Tribe

Spokane Tribe of the Spokane Reservation

Suquamish Indian Tribe of the Port Madison Reservation

Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation

Wiyot Tribe, California

Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana

Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana

Chippewa Cree Indians of the Rocky Boy's Reservation, MT

Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the Stewarts Point Rancheria, CA* 

Cahto Tribe of the Laytonville Rancheria 

Lower Brule Sioux Tribe of the Lower Brule Reservation, SD 

Nansemond Indian Nation 

Delaware Nation, OK