Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

U.S. SENATOR Jeff Bingaman

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Contact Senator Bingaman's Office:

Jude McCartin
Maria Najera
703 Hart Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-5521

Bingaman: Economic Development Grant to Invest in Indian Country

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today announced that New Mexico Tribal Business Initiative has been awarded a $733,232 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration.

The funding will support the Tribal Business Initiative (TBI), which is comprised of tribes in the Central and Northern New Mexico region. The TBI provides expert knowledge and training to support Native American tribes in creating culturally aligned, strategically-focused, and sustainable businesses. These tribally-owned businesses, in turn, create jobs and sustain long-term economic development.

"This funding is an investment in New Mexico's tribal communities and will help provide economic opportunities for their residents," Bingaman said.

Specifically, TBI provides one-on-one business development and leadership training to tribal enterprises, provides high-level business growth services to non-native enterprises that are willing to permanently locate on, or near a New Mexico reservation, and hire and train tribal citizens.