Dear USET/USET SPF Family,
On December 14, 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced publication of a Final Rule to expand eligibility for Tribal Nations to participate in the Rural Business Development Grants Program. The new expanded eligibility definitions will go into effect on January 16, 2024. The new definitions include expanding the “Small and Emerging Business” definition to include Tribal governments and Tribal owned organizations; clarifying the definition for “Conflict of Interest” to explain how the agency defines a relationship between Tribal Nations and Tribally owned entities; and codifies “Indian Tribe” and “Tribal” definitions to include Tribal governments and/or federally recognized Tribal Nations.
On August 14, 2023, USET SPF submitted comments to USDA in response to its proposed rule to update the Rural Business Development Grants Program. We expressed our general support for the proposed rule, especially on clarifying the definition of “Conflict of Interest”. However, we recommended that further education and training for USDA State Offices and Officers administering the grant program is required when interpreting the “Small and Emerging Business” definition. In its Final Rule, USDA stated that it will work with staff administrating the program to ensure that this clarification is made through future trainings and staff instructions. USET SPF is pleased with the outcome of USDA's Final Rule to address these issues with the Rural Business Development Grants Program, and we will continue to advocate for greater access and full funding to all federal programs for Tribal Nations.
For more information, please contact Brian Howard, USET SPF Senior Policy Analyst, at bhoward@usetinc.org.
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