Last week, the U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) released the Project and Expenditure Report and associated User Guide to be used by recipients of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF), authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act, to submit data associated with the SLFRF program and fulfill the program’s reporting obligations. The report is due for Tribal governments that received more than $30 million in SLFRF funding on January 31, 2022.

NAFOA, in coordination with Treasury, is hosting a webinar on January 18, 2022, at 3pm EST to walk through the SLFRF Project & Expenditure report for Tribal governments. You may register for the webinar here.

Funding from the SLFRF is subject to the requirements specified in the Final Rule released by Treasury on January 6, 2022. Treasury released an Overview of the Final Rule, which provides a summary of major rule provisions to assist recipients and stakeholders. Treasury also released a Tribal government fact sheet, which contains highlights of the final rule relevant to Tribal governments.

If you have questions or need additional information regarding the SLFRF, please send an email via SLFRP@treasury.gov.

NAFOA, in coordination with @Treasury, is hosting a webinar on January 18, 2022, at 3:00pm EST to walk through the Fiscal Recovery Funds Project & Expenditure report for Tribal governments. Learn more about the Final Rule and webinar: https://t.co/5m3bhXeVaL

— NAFOA (@nafoaorg) January 7, 2022

On December 28, 2021, Associate Administrator for the U.S. Department Of Commerce’s Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth issued a Dear Tribal Leader Letter (DTLL) initiating Tribal Consultation on the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) and considerations for the additional $2 billion appropriated for the TBCP by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Pub. L. 117-58 (IIJA).

As you may know, National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA) received applications requesting significantly more in funding than the $980 million available for grants under the Act. Of the additional $2 billion in funding appropriated for the TBCP by the IIJA, a portion may be used to fund TBCP applications submitted in response to the June 3, 2021, TBCP Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

NTIA is committed to holding consultation expeditiously to ensure that your input informs the use and timing of additional funding from the IIJA. In accordance with the Department of Commerce’s Tribal consultation policy elected Tribal leaders and/or a Tribal representative with the delegation of authority may participate in the virtual National Tribal Consultation to provide advice and insights as NTIA staff are working through the critical issues related to the program.

The virtual National Tribal Consultation will take place on the following date and time:

• Date: Friday, January 14, 2021
• Time: 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. EST
• Registration: To register for this virtual National Tribal Consultation, please click here.
• Call In: To dial in to this virtual National Tribal Consultation, please call (562) 247-8422 and use the attendee code: 714-523-950

Written comments can also be submitted to broadbandusa@ntia.gov with the subject line: “Tribal Broadband Grant Program IIJA,” by January 14, 2022, at 6:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.

With the generous support of NoVo Foundation, First Nations will establish a Gather Food Sovereignty Grant that will support work contributing to building a national movement that will fulfill a vision of Native communities and food systems that are self-directed, well-resourced and supported by community policies and systems.

This opportunity is targeting emerging projects that focus on developing Tribal Food Sovereignty. In this round of the Gather Food Sovereignty Grant, First Nations expects to award up to seven grants averaging $32,000 to support Native American-led food sovereignty work.

Grant Period: The grant period for this funding opportunity will commence March 1, 2022, and end February 28, 2023.

Application deadline: January 13, 2022. Apply now

The last day to register and complete Career Basics is January 31, 2022! Career Basics is a free online program specifically designed for Native youth and young professionals ages 18-26 years old. The self-paced program will teach you invaluable career readiness and financial literacy skills to prepare you for the workforce. Learn how how to write a cover letter, how to budget your finances, how to do an elevator pitch, and more with our free online program.

Participants who successfully complete Career Basics are eligible to apply for the 2022 NAFOA Leadership Summit taking place April 3, 2022 in Seattle, Washington.

Know a Native youth or young professional who would benefit from the program? Send us their name and contact information at education@nafoa.org, and we will extend a personal invitation.

NAFOA is seeking proposals from qualified graphic designers for designing and editing the print and digital versions of our conference publication, The NAFOA Navigator that is produced twice a year.

The designer must have the ability to adapt to changing schedules and deadlines and solve design issues quickly and creatively. Flexibility with edits and revisions is especially important in the last two-three weeks before the print deadline.

The designer will work with NAFOA staff to determine the overall design look and feel of the Navigator. All final print and digital materials will be owned by NAFOA. For more information and to submit a proposal, visit nafoa.org/jobs.