NAFOA is excited to welcome back Gigi Modrich as our emcee for the 42nd Annual Conference in Florida!

Originally hailing from New Mexico and proudly representing the Jicarilla Apache Tribe, Gigi is a Washington, DC-based comic whose star is on the rise. Gigi’s talent has garnered recognition through her appearances on the First Nations Comedy Experience, available on Amazon Prime. She has graced stages at festivals and clubs nationwide, including prominent venues in New York City, Los Angeles, and Albuquerque.

Alongside respected comedians like Tom Thakkar and Judah Friedlander, Gigi’s humor, marked by sarcastic optimism, offers a delightful blend of amusement and insight. Don’t miss her emceeing the NAFOA’s 42nd Annual Conference, where she promises to deliver laughter and thought-provoking moments in equal measure.

Register for the Conference

Join two informative sessions at #NAFOA2024. "The Government Outlook," featuring officials from the @USTreasury discussing $30 billion in recovery funding, and "The Tribal Perspective," offering insights into tribal experiences and strategies. https://t.co/Msdn4twqJZ pic.twitter.com/NWYy91qFPZ

— NAFOA (@nafoaorg) April 3, 2024

Melanie Benjamin, NAFOA Board Secretary and Chief Executive of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, recently discussed the impact of federal budget dysfunction on tribal nations in an interview with Marketplace Radio.

Melanie Benjamin is chief executive of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and board secretary with the Native American Finance Officers Association. She said provisions laid out in treaties between tribal nations and the United States are protected by the constitution.

“In today’s terms, those are contracts and they’re valid. They’re the supreme law of the land. When you’re in a shutdown, how are you supposed to uphold that contract?” Benjamin said.

Source: Marketplace Radio Listen / Continue Reading

Application Deadline: Monday, June 3, 2024

The Social Security Administration is accepting applications for the ICAP through Monday, June 3, 2024. ICAP allows us to enter into cooperative agreements with non-federal entities to conduct interventional research supporting SSA programs. The research and interventions funded by ICAP will target five priority research areas:

• Eliminating the structural barriers for people with disabilities in the labor market, particularly for people of color and other underserved communities, that increase the likelihood of people receiving or applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI);
• Increasing employment and self-sufficiency of individuals with disabilities, including people in underserved communities;
• Coordinating planning between private and public human services agencies to improve the administration and effectiveness of the SSDI, SSI, and related programs;
• Assisting claimants in underserved communities to apply for or appeal decisions on claims for SSDI benefits and SSI; and
• Conducting outreach to people with disabilities who are potentially eligible to receive SSI.

To learn more about ICAP funding opportunity and how to apply, please attend the information session on Thursday, April 25, 2024, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET. If you would like to participate, please register by Monday, April 22, 2024.

Source: Social Security Administration Learn More and Apply

Information Session Registration

The U.S. Department of the Treasury is hosting a Tribal consultation on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) entitled “Long-Term, Part-Time Employee Rules for Cash or Deferred Arrangements Under Section 401(k).” This consultation will be held virtually on Friday, May 17, 2024, 1:00-3:00 p.m. ET.

Many Tribal governments provide a retirement plan as an incentive to attract and retain employees. The Long-Term, Part-Time Employee Rules for Cash or Deferred Arrangements Under Section 401(k) NPRM contains a proposed regulation that would reflect statutory changes made by section 112 of the SECURE. The proposed regulation includes provisions that Tribal retirement plans and other employers will need to consider.

For more information and proposed questions, please see the attached Dear Tribal Leader Letter or visit the Tribal Consultation page on Treasury’s website. Treasury is accepting written comments received by June 17, 2024, 11:59 p.m. Alaska Time. Please submit written comments at tribal.consult@treasury.gov.

Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury Register

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) directs and oversees all financial activities within the corporation, including development, enhancement, and maintenance of sound financial systems in accordance with CECL standards and regulations. This includes overseeing the preparation of timely internal and external financial reports, audits, and compliance items.

Strong knowledge of the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) and/or community development is preferred. The (CFO) will also be responsible for monitoring the annual budget, planning and overseeing cash liquidity, including collateral related to secured debt facilities, and utilizing financial modeling software to create various financial projections. Additionally, the CFO will monitor and ensure compliance with any tax regulations, investor requirements, New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC), and reporting requirements to the CDFI Fund.

Oversight of the Loan Servicing Department and its compliance is also a key aspect of this role.

Learn More & Apply at nafoa.org/jobs