Native American Heritage Month

This month was established to recognize the significant contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the U.S. The theme for 2023: “Protecting Our People Through Sovereignty: Past, Present, and Future.” According to the U.S. Census Bureau, American Indian and Alaska Natives own more than 315,000 businesses nationwide, while Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders owned 82,000 businesses. The SBA has an Office of Native American Affairs, which offers free technical assistance for a variety of business types. There are also links to other resources, such as the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development. And in October, the SBA announced a new tribal grant program to expand efforts that support Native American enterprises. #IdeaoftheDay