Danielle Greendeer, the owner of Wampanoag Trading Post and Gallery in Massachusetts, which sells handmade Eastern Woodland art made by Indigenous artists, has benefitted from Google's Indigenous small business program.
WASHINGTON, D.C.-The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is proud to announce, with support from Google.org, the Small Business Stabilization Grant program-a $1 million investment in Indian Country. This new funding is an expansion of a $250k NCAI small business support program, also funded by Google.org.
NCAI is issuing business stabilization grants in the amount of $5,000 each to a total of 170 Native-owned small businesses that have been severely impacted by the curtailing of commercial activity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Awarded applicants can use the funds to address their most urgent needs to stabilize and strengthen their businesses, such as (but not limited to):
• making monthly payments on small business loans that have lapsed due to declining business revenues;
• keeping employees employed;
• paying their vendors; and/or
• purchasing equipment/software to transition or grow their businesses online.
"Native-owned small businesses serve as the lifeblood of many tribal communities across the country," said NCAI President Fawn Sharp. "These businesses provide critical jobs and income to tribal citizens and their families, while at the same time enriching the quality of community life by providing goods and services to local residents and the public at-large. We are humbled by this support from Google.org and look forward to continuing to support American Indian and Alaska Native communities with this funding."
"Google.org is proud to continue supporting NCAI to provide direct relief funding to the Native small business community," said Olivia Hoeft, Google.org spokesperson and Google American Indian Network lead. "We're also working with NCAI to provide free Grow with Google training and support to more than 5,000 Indigenous business owners in the US to access digital tools and skills needed to grow."
To learn more about and apply for the Small Business Stabilization grant, please visit http://www.ncai.org/Covid-19.
