Grant provides customized business incubation and technical resources to Native American-owned businesses and entrepreneurs to overcome the unique obstacles they confront.
The U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Indian Economic Development, awarded New Mexico State University’s (NMSU) American Indian Business Enterprise Center (AIBE) and San Juan College (SJC) an Indian Business Incubator Program grant for three years with an option of an additional three years to open a new AIBE Incubator.
To kick off the grant, a ribbon-cutting event was recently held at San Juan College’s Big Idea makerspace, located in the Quality Center for Business.
“Funding from this grant will allow NMSU Arrowhead Center’s AIBE and SJC Enterprise Center to increase entrepreneurial training and provide a place to work and a makerspace to Native American entrepreneurs in the Navajo Nation, Jicarilla Apache, Ute Mountain Ute, and Southern Ute tribes,” explained Dr. Reyes, associate vice president Workforce, Economic & Resource Development.
“This partnership puts all the pieces together to provide a complete entrepreneurial ecosystem for Native businesses to create and succeed,” added Janice Krish, Enterprise Center director.
This grant will provide customized business incubation and technical resources to Native American-owned businesses and entrepreneurs to overcome the unique obstacles they confront. Businesses will be provided the necessary tools to grow and offer products and services to reservation communities and beyond.
Training and assistance covered by the grants include incubator space, priority membership to SJC’s Big Idea makerspace, entrepreneurial and technology training and mentorship and one-on-one advising.
For more information, contact Enterprise Center Director Janice Krish at krishj@sanjuancollege.edu.
