Last week, the White House released the first edition of its Bipartisan Infrastructure Law guidebook to help Tribal, state, local, and territorial governments unlock the benefits from the historic investments in our nation’s infrastructure. The guidebook is a one-stop-shop on the law and contains the most comprehensive information to date on the more than 375 programs included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act invested an unprecedented $15 Billion in direct funding into Indian Country. This funding will be applied to tribal climate resilience, ocean management, clean drinking water, broadband connectivity, bridge investment and various transportation projects.

Future phases of the guidebook will update dates, timelines for program implementation, best practices, case studies, and links to resources developed by the White House and key partners. The White House recognizes Tribal, state, local, and territorial capacity may be strained due to the pandemic, historic underinvestment, or the challenges of day-to-day governance.

“In her 2022 State of the Band address, Mille Lacs Band Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin reflected on 2021 as a year of great progress for the Mille Lacs Band and for Native Americans at the federal and state level, but also a year of great loss as many band elders passed away due to complications from COVID-19 and other health issues.

One significant example of progress for Native people with the state and federal government has been the advancement of tribal consultation, band officials said in a news release. In 2021, the Mille Lacs Band was involved in hundreds of consultation sessions with federal and state government agencies. In the first year of the Biden Administration the band has had more federal consultations than with all previous presidential administrations combined.

Benjamin noted the significant impact of American Indians being appointed as cabinet secretaries and other key leadership positions in federal agencies.

“American Indian people are now seated at the tables of power throughout Washington D.C.,” Benjamin said. ‘These are people who understand tribal sovereignty, who know the challenges we face, and who do not need a history lesson because they are one of us.’” Continue reading in the Brainerd Dispatch.

Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin serves on the NAFOA Board of Directors as Secretary.

Week in Review:

–@USDA Invests $1.4 Billion to Strengthen Economy in Rural America: https://t.co/yMS1de1yyu

-RD Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small talks about the $1.4 billion investment: https://t.co/7MuAsPHlsA

-Apply for a 1994 Tribal Scholarship: https://t.co/NQNP8FaBox pic.twitter.com/v14XdeSZmM

— Rural Development (@usdaRD) February 4, 2022

The Rural Utilities Service, a Rural Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to announce that it is accepting applications for fiscal year 2022 (FY 22) for the Rural eConnectivity Program (the ReConnect Program).

In addition, this FOA defines requirements that are determined at the time a funding announcement is published, as outlined in the regulation. As part of this announcement, the Agency is also informing potential applicants and other interested parties about its intention to seek information on a topic that will help inform future funding announcements.

The ReConnect Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to facilitate broadband deployment in rural areas. In facilitating the expansion of broadband services and infrastructure, the program will fuel long-term rural economic development and opportunities in rural America.

Applications will not be accepted after February 22, 2022 until a new application opportunity has been opened with the publication of an additional FOA in the Federal Register.

In early 2020, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians awarded a grant to the University of Nevada Las Vegas to design and implement a program specifically to prepare Native American candidates for careers in gaming and hospitality.

With San Manuel’s support, the Harrah College of Hospitality at UNLV is developing a first-of-its-kind educational program in Tribal Hospitality and Gaming. The program is being designed to serve the needs of tribal citizens seeking career and economic development opportunities in the hospitality and gaming industry. This program also provides an opportunity for individual tribal citizens and tribal nations to secure their futures.

Take the Tribal Gaming and Hospitality Education Survey

Hear from the 4 top Native American scholarship organizations at the Virtual Native Scholarship Forum!

Hosted by UNITY Inc. the Forum will feature representatives from the American Indian College Fund, Cobell Scholarships, American Indian Science and Engineering Society, and American Indian Graduate Center.

Learn about all the opportunities available to Native students from these premiere organizations, and ask a question. Register to join on Thursday, Feb 17 at 6:00 PM Mountain Time.

Contact g.mendoza@unityinc.org with any questions about the event.

Join #Cobell alongside our National Native Scholarship Provider partners for this year's #NativeScholarshipForum hosted by our friends at @UNITYInc76! Learn all about #NativeScholarships on February 17 at 6pm MST.

Don't miss it! Register here: https://t.co/qWhCGxD2Gc pic.twitter.com/iKenBwUGoo

— Cobell Scholarship (@CobellScholars) February 4, 2022