Indian Country Economic Development Program (ICED)
GRANTS FOR TRIBAL GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Guidelines | Application | Quarterly Reporting Form | Project Closeout & Certification Form
The Montana Department of Commerce Indian Country Economic Development (ICED) grant program is intended to improve econonuc opportunities for the eight tribal governments in Montana. Since it's inception in the 59th Montana State Legislature the ICED program has supported ICED tribal government priority economic development projects, the Montana Indian Equity Fund, and the Montana Indian Entrepreneur Training. Tribal priority economic development grants funds, which must be support tribal business development projects, workforce training projects, entrepreneurial training, feasibility studies and other types of economic development projects.
Who Is Eligible
The governing bodies of each of Montana’s eight tribal governments are the only eligible applicants for tribal priority economic development projects.
Funding Availability
A maximum of $70,000 per governing body is available in fiscal year 2013.
What Qualifies
Eligible entities may grant or loan ICED funds to a business enterprise if it will produce a positive economic benefit for the Tribe(s). In this context, a positive economic benefit is defined as the near-term creation or retention of job opportunities for Tribal members in Montana. Examples include:
Business Development Projects - Business expansion, retention, start-up, or relocation projects. Equal matching funds are required for funding in any of these activities in this category.
Workforce Training Projects - Projects that will train Tribal members in job skills currently needed by a specific company on or off of the reservation in Montana. The company must commit to hiring the permanent workers and must document that equal matching funds are being provided by the company for the training. A maximum of $7,500 in training funds may be requested for each person to be hired and trained.
Entrepreneurial Training - The creation or maintenance of activities designed to provide entrepreneurial training for reservation members (e.g., continue to provide small business technical assistance through an existing community based organization that emphasizes business development). Equal matching funds are required for funding in this category of activity.
Feasibility Study - A feasibility study of a potential business activity that has a significant economic impact on the future economic development of the reservation. Any application to fund a feasibility study must prove that equal matching funds are available to fund the study from the Tribe(s) or another source.
Other Business Development Projects - Other types of economic development projects (e.g., the administration of a small revolving loan fund for individual Indian businesses administered by the Tribal government). Equal matching funds are required for funding in this category of activity.
Match Requirement
Minimum matching funds required to receive funding are $1 to $1. Match can be cash or in-kind, and may be modified by the Department, in its sole discretion.
Tribal Resolution
Submitted applications must include appropriate authorization for application to the program by the tribal government according to established tribal governmental procedures (i.e. tribal council resolution or authorization of the chief elected official of the executive branch, whichever is applicable.) A Tribal governmental resolution indicating support for the application and authorizing the application to the Program is required. The resolution should include the name of the project being applied for, the name of the Tribal organization or entity that will be responsible for managing the application process and contract, and the governing body’s approval to apply for the ICED program funds.
Application Deadline
Applications may be submitted anytime after July 1, 2012 and are due on or before December 7, 2012. The ICED program will reimburse Tribe(s) for expenditures incurred on or after the date of the Notice of Award letter.
How to Apply
To apply for any ICED Program funding, the eligible applicant must complete the application found on the ICED website at http://iced.mt.gov on or before December 7, 2012. The application consists of the Application (Appendix A) and a Tribal Resolution.
The applicant must print and fill out the application form using typewritten font, or fill out the application online and print the completed application form. The completed application and supplementary materials must then be submitted by email or mail to:
ICED Program Manager
Montana Department of Commerce
301 S. Park Avenue
PO Box 200505
Helena MT 59620-0505
Phone: (406) 841-2775
Fax: (406) 841-2731
email: hsobrepena@mt.gov
Applicants are encouraged to contact the ICED Program Manager with any questions they have concerning these guidelines or the application process. The ICED Program is committed to assisting all Tribal governments apply for Program funding.