Indianz.Com > News > NAFOA: 5 Things You Need to Know This Week (May 11, 2026)
NAFOA
Last week, NAFOA and AFOA Canada hosted the Leading People and Investing to Build Sustainable Communities program at Harvard Business School. The program convened Tribal and Indigenous leaders from the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand for a week of executive education and international collaboration. Pictured, from left: Harvard Business School Professor David Ager, NAFOA 1st Vice President VaRene Martin, NAFOA President Rodney Butler. Photo courtesy NAFOA
5 Things You Need to Know This Week (May 11, 2026)
New Webinars, Interviews, & Stories Advancing Indian Country Economies
Monday, May 11, 2026
Source: NAFOA

1. WEBINAR
New Market Tax Credits: Unlocking Capital for Native Communities
Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 1:00 PM EST

Join the NAFOA Institute and Baker Tilly x Moss Adams for an educational webinar on New Market Tax Credits and unlocking capital for Native communities.

The New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program, administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund, has entered a historic phase with a $10 billion double round of allocations for the 2024-2025 cycle, a 20% increase in investments, and the largest funding round in program history. That’s a historic opportunity for Tribal communities to fund healthcare centers, cultural spaces, small businesses & more.

Panelists will also consider the accounting implications and best practices when receiving NMTCs to help realize NMTC’s potential to catalyze sustainable economic growth in Indian Country.

Register to Join on May 19

2. NAFOA IN THE NEWS
Tribal Gaming & Hospitality Magazine, Interview with Executive Director Cory Blankenship
“Tribes do more for regional economies than any other local government when given a level playing field.” At NAFOA’s 44th Annual Conference, NAFOA Executive Director Cory Blankenship talks with TG&H about navigating uncertainty, advancing self-sufficiency, and the power of coming together to move key issues forward.

Source: Tribal Gaming & Hospitality Magazine Watch the Video

3. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
The Orange Brief Podcast: NAFOA News from Concentrate
EPISODE 1: First Pour: Treasury Rules, Congress, and Indian Country’s Economic Moment

In NAFOA’s debut episode, Executive Director Cory Blankenship delivers five concentrated minutes of what’s moving Indian Country forward. From two landmark U.S. Treasury rulings securing historic wins for Tribal economic sovereignty, to Capitol Hill testimony calling out broken federal programs, to the reintroduction of the Tribal Tax and Investment Reform Act — plus a celebration of the next generation of Tribal finance leaders. No pulp. Just the good stuff.

Subscribe and Listen on Your Favorite Platform

4. FROM THE NAVIGATOR
Investing in Economic Sovereignty: How the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Worked with Wells Fargo to Build Long-Term Tribal Infrastructure
Traditionally, tribal governments across Indian Country have relied on a familiar formula to fund essential services: using enterprise revenues to pay cash for government needs while reserving borrowing primarily for gaming development. Today, as infrastructure demands grow and funding tools evolve, some tribes are reassessing that approach, seeking ways to preserve liquidity, diversify investments, and plan for economic sovereignty.

The Salt River Pima‐Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC), a sovereign tribal government in the Phoenix metro area, is a great example. With more than 11,000 enrolled members and a diverse portfolio of tribally owned enterprises, SRPMIC has focused on ensuring it can deliver critical services today while investing in the future.

Download & Read the NAFOA Navigator (pg 62-64) If you are experiencing issues with the link, visit nafoa.org/conference for the direct link to the Navigator.

5. JOB
Government Grants Controller, Grand Portage Reservation
The Government Grant Controller is responsible for accurate and timely reporting on the finances of all grants and contracts.

Guarantees that all reporting to appropriate agencies includes analyzing financial statement for correctness, adjusting as necessary to assure that entries are in correct month, preparing financial report, obtaining proper signature and submitting to appropriate agency, monthly, quarterly or annually.

Closing grants which includes assuring all expenses are submitted, grant conditions have been met, complete adjustments as needed, and calculating and verifying that indirect cost is correct.

Fiscal year end, which includes salary and fringe accruals, expense accruals, indirect cost. calculations, revenue receivable/deferrals, prove indirect cost pool revenue, individual grant tie-out. and SEFA completion.

Learn More & Apply at nafoa.org/jobs