The Administration for Native Americans Awards more than $9 Million to Improve Social and Economic Well-Being in Native Communities

The Administration for Native Americans (ANA) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families has awarded $9 million to 32 Native American Tribes and Native organizations to help improve the social and economic well-being in their communities. Every year, ANA supports Native-led, community-based projects across the United States, Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Funds will be awarded across three Notice of Funding Opportunities:

• Social and Economic Development Strategies (SEDS) - $6,741,370
• Social and Economic Development Strategies Alaska (SEDS-AK) - $660,451
• Environmental Regulatory Enhancement Grant Awards (ERE) - $1,644,338

“Congratulations to each of the award recipients and thank you for the important work you all do to better the lives of Native and Indigenous communities every day,” said ANA Commissioner Patrice Kunesh. “I am excited to learn about their diverse and dynamic projects that will lift up their children and families.”  

The Northern Cheyenne Tribe (NCT), an ERE community partner, will develop a Tribal framework to implement the NCT Tribal Lands Leasing Act of 2021 and promote leasing on Tribal land for economic development and resource preservation purposes. The long-term goal of this project is to support development while mitigating adverse impacts of such development to the aesthetic, environmental, biological and cultural aspects of the reservation.

The Leech Lake Financial Services, Inc ., a Native Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), will create a homeownership readiness program to prepare families to be homeowners by building credit and providing educational coaching and learning opportunities. This project responds to a community survey where the majority of respondents reported lack of homeownership and financial experience in navigating the mortgage market and saving for down payments. This project will assist families in building financial assets and stability through homeownership.

The Galena Village of Alaska will implement a three-year project to develop high-quality early childhood programs that include both a culturally-aligned curriculum for children aged 0-5 years and a workforce development program in early childhood professions for high school students and school district employees. The project will provide opportunities to children to develop social and academic skills needed for success in school, to parents to work and receive post-secondary early childhood certifications or degrees, and to employers to recruit new staff.  

“ACF recognizes the deep wisdom and sovereignty of tribal nations, and we strongly believe that Tribes themselves can most effectively address the needs of their citizens,” said Acting ACF Assistant Secretary Jeff Hild. “ANA provides a wide array of grant funding to eligible Tribes and organizations annually and we are proud to work together with Tribes to support their programs and initiatives to promote social and economic well-being and protect and conserve their culture and natural environments.”

New FY 2023 ERE community partners:

• Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe - Port Angeles, Wash.
• Makah Indian Tribe - Neah Bay, Wash.
• Metlakatla Indian Community - Metlakatla, Alaska
• Northern Cheyenne Tribe - Lame Deer, Mont.
• Swinomish Indian Tribal Community - La Conner, Wash.
• Yakutat Tlingit Tribe - Yakutat, Alaska
• Yurok Tribe of the Yurok Reservation - Klamath, Calif.

New FY 2023 SEDS community partners:

• Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association, Inc. - Anchorage, Alaska
• American Indian Association of Tucson, Inc. dba Tucson Indian Center — Tucson, Ariz.
• American Samoa Community College - Pago Pago, American Samoa
• Burns Paiute Tribe — Burns, Ore.
• Colusa Indian Community Council — Colusa, Calif.
• Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc. - Anchorage, Alaska
• Cultural Conservancy Sacred Land Foundation - San Francisco, Calif.
• Fairbanks Native Association — Fairbanks, Alaska
• Friends of the Marianas Trench Monument — Saipan, Mariana Islands
• Hi'ohia - Waianae, Hawaii
• Ileihno Bopachemihn, Inc. - Sacramento, Calif.
• Leech Lake Financial Services, Inc. - Cass Lake, Minn.
• Ma Ka Hana Ka ʻIke Building Program, Hana, Hawaii
• Mana Maoli — Honolulu, Hawaii
• Marianas Alliance of Non-Governmental Organizations — Saipan, Mariana Islands
• Michigan Indian Legal Services, Inc - Traverse City, Mich.
• Native American Community Services — Buffalo, N.Y.
• Native Finance Development Corporation — Vista, Calif.
• Purple Maia Foundation — Aiea, Hawaii
• Snoqualmie Indian Tribe — Snoqualmie, Wash.
• Southern California Indian Law and Justice Center - Valley Center, Calif.
• The Christopher James Foeoletini Ledoux Foundation - Pago Pago, American Samoa

New FY 2023 SED-AK community partners:

• Doyon Foundation - Fairbanks, Alaska
• Galena Village - Galena, Alaska
• Yakutat Tlingit Tribe - Yakutat, Alaska

ANA previously announced awards of $2.6 million for Native language preservation and immersion. ANA’s total award portfolio for FY23 is $11.7 million. For more information on all current grant recipients, please visit:  Current Grantees | The Administration for Children and Families (hhs.gov) .