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U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC)

The Department of Commerce (www.doc.gov) has worked closely with American Indian and Alaskan Native communities for over 35 years. Its mission is to promote job creation and improved living standards for all Americans through economic growth, technological competitiveness, and sustainable development. The Department works with nearly every priority area within tribal communities, including economic development, infrastructure, and natural resource management. When you visit the websites of this government agency or organization, you will be leaving the Federal Communications Commission's website. If you have questions concerning the information contained on these sites, please contact the specific government agency.

Economic Development Administration (EDA)
www.doc.gov/eda
The Economic Development Administration plays an important role in the economic development of Native American communities, including Alaskan Native villages. The EDA provides planning grants to over 60 Indian tribes to build local economic development in Native American communities.

Native American Economic Development
www.doc.gov/eda/html/2b4_4anativeamer.htm#Resources
This website lists examples of EDA funded Native American Economic Development Projects.

EDA's Reports and Publications
www.doc.gov/eda/html/1g3_researchrpts.htm
EDA research reports on this website include:

Assessment of Technology Infrastructure in Native Communities
This study assesses the current state of technology infrastructure in Native communities, identifies challenges and barriers, and proposes solutions.

American Indian Reservations and Indian Trust Areas
This comprehensive publication presents profiles, by state, of the economy of every Indian reservation in the United States.

Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)
www.mbda.gov
The Minority Business Development Agency provides management and technical assistance for Native American businesses through its Native American Business Development Centers located throughout the country. At this website you will find free online tools and publications.

MBDA's Native American Program
www.mbda.gov/templates/inside.php?content_id=643&title=&site_id=1
MBDA established the Native American Program to address the special problems of the Native American firms and individuals interested in entering, maintaining or expanding their efforts in the competitive marketplace. Their Native American Business Development Centers are designed to focus on the unique business needs of the Native American.

National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
www.ntia.doc.gov
NTIA has helped to extend the benefits of information and communications technology to American Indian and Alaska Native communities through two grants programs, the Technology Opportunities Program and the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program.

Technology Opportunities Program (TOP)
www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/top/index.html
The Technology Opportunities Program provides matching grants to tribal projects and since 1994 has funded 18 projects that are serving as models within Indian Country. For details on these and additional projects, search the database in the grants section on this website.

Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP)
www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/ptfp/index.html
The Public Telecommunications Facilities Program has made a significant contribution to the public broadcasting system in Indian country by providing matching grants. PTFP funded over 40 tribal communities for the planning, construction, and replacement of outdated public radio and television equipment. PTFP also funded the establishment of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium satellite-based distance-learning network, which serves 31 tribal colleges.

Census Bureau
www.census.gov
The Census Bureau - known as "the nation's fact finder" - conducts the decennial census of population and housing, demographic and economic censuses, and more than 200 annual surveys, many of them for other government agencies. The Census Bureau's population counts are used as one element in deciding the distribution of billions in federal grant money. At their website you will find data on the American Indian and Alaska Native population including statistics on language, housing and various social and economic characteristics.