[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:
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Date Location Event
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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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