Close up shot of a man's Indigenous regalia

Explore summaries from all past CoP events, review presentation slides and other event sourced materials, and connect with featured subject matter experts (SME).

Natural Resource Management and Environmental Resilience and Adaptation (Virtual Informational Session)
Natural Resources & Environment Kevin Klingbeil Natural Resources & Environment Kevin Klingbeil

Natural Resource Management and Environmental Resilience and Adaptation (Virtual Informational Session)

This session addressed how natural resource conservation and management and environmental adaptation and resilience strategies that guide community economic development activities enable tribes and Native communities to examine economic development through the lens of sustainability and cultural appropriateness. 

Read More
Transportation and Water Infrastructure Development as Drivers of Economic Development (Virtual Informational Session) 
Transportation & Water Kevin Klingbeil Transportation & Water Kevin Klingbeil

Transportation and Water Infrastructure Development as Drivers of Economic Development (Virtual Informational Session) 

This CoP session focused on the development of infrastructure as a precursor to a wide range of economic development activities. It featured three SME panelists representing a federal agency, a tribe in the process of expanding their water infrastructure, and an organization that supports the development of self-determined efforts of tribes to transition towards clean energy systems.  

Read More
Native Agriculture: Food Sovereignty, Food Systems, and Financing (Information Session)
Native Agriculture Kevin Klingbeil Native Agriculture Kevin Klingbeil

Native Agriculture: Food Sovereignty, Food Systems, and Financing (Information Session)

This session featured a panel of experts who work for tribal and Native organizations that operate food sovereignty programs or are actively developing Native food systems in collaboration with Native producers, restaurateurs, schools, and providers of food assistance programs and/or who provide grants, loans, financing and technical assistance in support of these activities. 

Read More
Unlocking Opportunity: How Developing Tribal Broadband Advances Communities and Business Services (Information Session)

Unlocking Opportunity: How Developing Tribal Broadband Advances Communities and Business Services (Information Session)

Broadband and telecommunications, are sectors that represent areas of significant infrastructural need with tribal and Native lands, provide tremendous current opportunities for significant funding, and offer fertile ground for new partnerships with non-Native entities and governments.

Read More
Tourism and Culture-Centered Economic Development (Information Session)
Funding, Tourism, Entrepreneurship Kevin Klingbeil Funding, Tourism, Entrepreneurship Kevin Klingbeil

Tourism and Culture-Centered Economic Development (Information Session)

This session discussed strategic planning for indigenous tourism development, an intro to ATNI-EDC and Harvard Project on Indigenous Governance and Development, and highlighted tourism projects across Indian Country such as: 

  • The Wind River Development Fund 

  • NC Growth - Native Edge Tourism Technical Assistance Center

  • Akwesasne Travel of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe

Read More
Creative Mechanisms for Funding Economic Development (Information Session)

Creative Mechanisms for Funding Economic Development (Information Session)

This session featured the presentation of two unique funding mechanisms for supporting community economic development in tribal and Native communities, including Section 105(l) leases and Treasury’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSCBI), as well as an introduction to some useful tools and Resources the EDA offers for underserved communities

Read More
How Health and Human Services Uplift Community Economic Development (Information Session)
Funding, Healthcare, Community Facilities Kevin Klingbeil Funding, Healthcare, Community Facilities Kevin Klingbeil

How Health and Human Services Uplift Community Economic Development (Information Session)

The discussion centered around how project leaders identified a need for the facilities in their communities, how they secured funding, and the impacts the health centers will have and are having on community economic development. Experts also discussed how the 105(l)-lease program can help fund and support Native health centers.

Read More
Kick-Off Event
Kevin Klingbeil Kevin Klingbeil

Kick-Off Event

Over 90 people attended the session from across the country, including from Alaska and Hawaii. Participants came from tribal enterprises, tribal planning departments, Native CDFIs, state and federal agencies, academia, regional tribal associations, and more. Attendees reported a range of experience with EDA grants.

Read More

Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)

The CoP has featured these SME due to their knowledge, expertise, and experience in Indigenous economic development projects across the country and beyond boarders. View the CoP’s featured SME bios, contact information, and featured events they were a part of.