[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 215 (Monday, November 7, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78120-78122]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-26832]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Minority Business Development Agency

[Docket No.: 161012956-6956-01]


Notice and Request for Comments: Minority Business Development 
Agency (MBDA) Tribal Consultations

AGENCY: Minority Business Development Agency, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) plans to 
conduct five tribal consultation meetings with federally recognized 
tribes, American Indian and Alaska Native business/trade/economic 
organizations, and American Indian and Alaska Native-owned firms, 
between November 2016 and February 2017. The purpose of these tribal 
consultations is to provide a venue for tribal leaders share insights, 
make recommendations, and discuss concerns regarding MBDA's business 
development and entrepreneurial services in Indian Country. MBDA is 
also accepting written comments related to the business development 
issues stated in this notice.

DATES: Tribal consultations will be conducted in different locations 
between November 2016 and February 2017. The specific dates, locations 
and times will be announced on the MBDA Web site at http://www.mbda.gov/tribalconsult . Written comments in response to the 
questions posed in this notice must be submitted no later than January 
30, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by MBDA-2016-0001, by 
the following methods: Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic 
public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 
www.regulations.gov/docket?D=MBDA-

[[Page 78121]]

2016-001, click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required 
fields, and enter or attach your comments; Mail: Submit written 
comments to Bridget Gonzales, Chief, Office of Legislative, Education 
and Intergovernmental Affairs, Minority Business Development Agency, 
1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Room 5067, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melvin Tabilas, Legislative and 
Intergovernmental Affairs Specialist, Office of Legislative, Education 
and Intergovernmental Affairs, Minority Business Development Agency, at 
(202) 482-5598; or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The Minority Business Development Agency's (MBDA) Office of 
Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs (OLEIA) serves as the focal 
point for consultation with Tribal governments and Tribal organizations 
on policy, regulatory and legislative issues that will have a direct 
impact on American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) communities. The 
tribal consultations will be conducted in conjunction with the MBDA's 
Office of Business Development (OBD) which designs and manages the 
business development services available to Native American 
entrepreneurs and tribally-owned businesses. Outreach and business 
development support specific to the AIAN populations is one part of the 
overall efforts of MBDA to ensure all programs and services of the 
Agency are available to members of the tribal communities.
    MBDA is the only Federal agency created specifically to foster the 
establishment and growth of minority business enterprises (MBEs). MBDA 
actively promotes the strategic growth and expansion of MBEs by 
offering management and technical assistance through a nationwide 
network of business centers. All MBDA Business Centers serve businesses 
owned or controlled by persons or groups of persons from the following 
groups: American Indians and Native Americans (including Alaska 
Natives, Alaska Native Corporations, Tribal entities, Tribal 
universities and Tribal governments), African Americans, Asian Indian 
Americans, Asian and Pacific Islander Americans, Hasidic Jewish 
Americans, and Hispanic Americans. MBDA target clients are businesses 
with $1.0 million or more in revenues.
    The MBDA Business Centers provide services that include, but are 
not limited to, initial consultations and assessments, business 
technical assistance, and access to federal and non-federal procurement 
and financing opportunities. Specific performance requirements and 
metrics are used by MBDA to evaluate each business center and are a key 
component of the MBDA's business development programs.
    During fiscal year 2016, MBDA provided dedicated outreach to the 
AIAN population through the operation of six MBDA Business Centers--
AIAN in the following locations: Fresno, California; Santa Fe, New 
Mexico; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Bismarck, North Dakota; Anchorage, Alaska; and 
Bridgeport, Connecticut. For more details about the current goals and 
objectives of the MBDA Business Centers--AIAN, please see the Federal 
Funding Opportunity notice that was issued in 2012 at http://www.mbda.gov/tribalconsult.
    Funding for the current MBDA Business Center--AIAN program will 
expire in August 2017. MBDA expects to renew its investment in Indian 
Country and has designed the tribal consultations to allow tribal 
governments and organizations an opportunity to provide information on 
how to better provide business development services and programs. The 
locations and approximate dates, and times of the meetings are provided 
below in Supplementary Information. The specific dates and times will 
be posted on MBDA's Web site at http://www.mbda.gov/tribalconsult. The 
meetings are open to members of federally recognized tribes. In 
consideration of tribal leaders who are not able to attend a tribal 
consultation meeting, MBDA is also accepting written comments based on 
the questions listed below.

II. Tribal Consultation Meetings

    Tribal consultation sessions are tentatively scheduled in 
association with the following events:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Date                    Location              Event
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Nov 1-3, 2016..............  Tulsa, Oklahoma..  Native American
                                                    Contractors
                                                    Association--Annual
                                                    B2B Conference &
                                                    Marketplace.
2. Nov 14-17, 2016............  Santa Fe, New      National Center for
                                 Mexico.            American Indian
                                                    Enterprise
                                                    Development--Reserva
                                                    tion Economic Summit
                                                    (RES) New Mexico.
3. November 14-17, 2016.......  Minneapolis, MN..  Long Term Services
                                                    and Supports in
                                                    Indian Country
                                                    Conference.
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    Details about each Tribal consultation meeting will be posted on 
the MBDA Web site at: http://www.mbda.gov/tribalconsult. The MBDA 
Tribal consultation meetings are being hosted by the U.S. Federal 
Government. They are open and public meetings. They will be tape-
recorded and transcribed so that we can retain valuable input and 
feedback. Registration for the non-governmental organization 
conferences is not mandatory to participate in in the MBDA Tribal 
consultations.

III. Questions for Public Comment

    Comments may be provided in response to any or all of the following 
questions. Please identify the specific AIAN community represented by 
the comments (e.g., Cherokee Nation, Alaska Native village, Native 
American businesses off reservation, tribally-owned businesses):
    1. Describe any self-governance entrepreneurial or business 
development programs that have resulted in positive impacts to your 
community's economic development? What were the impacts and how did 
they come about?
    2. What challenges exist to business development and job creation 
in AIAN communities? What ideas or solutions do you think would address 
these challenges?
    3. What are your goals and priorities for advancing AIAN 
entrepreneurship and business development?
    4. What are some best practices that you've seen implemented that 
positively address the business development challenges experienced by 
your community from either a self-governing perspective, and/or from 
Federal, state, or local programs?
    5. Have you (or businesses from your Tribe/Tribal organization) 
been a client of a MBDA Business Center--AIAN?
    a. If so, please describe the services and activities that have 
been most beneficial to growing their business and/or creating jobs:
    1. Access to private sector contracts;
    2. Access to Federal/State or Municipal contracts;
    3. Access to capital;
    4. Exporting;

[[Page 78122]]

    5. Joint partnerships/teaming arrangements;
    6. Other.
    b. If you or your business have not been a client of a MBDA 
Business Center, please state reasons why, if any?
    6. Do the goals and objectives of the MBDA Business Centers--AIAN 
align with your Tribe's business and economic development goals? If so, 
please elaborate. If not, please provide recommendations for 
improvements, enhancements or alternatives.
    Comments must include the following: Name and title of commenter, 
name of tribe, tribal organization or business, AIAN location (if 
applicable), city, and state.

    Dated: November 2, 2016.
Josephine Arnold,
Chief Counsel, Minority Business Development Agency.
[FR Doc. 2016-26832 Filed 11-4-16; 8:45 am]
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