FAQ

The Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC) is honored to lead this initiative in service to Indian Country’s food systems. We are committed to a thoughtful approach that ensures a lasting impact for generations to come.

Below are answers addressing common questions about the NIFBC initiative. For further clarification, please email NIFBC@indianag.org.

What is NIFBC’s Business Builder subaward?

NIFBC’s Business Builder subaward is a non-competitive grant, and through this grant up to $100,000 total can be awarded to an eligible entity over the course of the 5-year program. Since it is non-competitive, what this means is Technical Assistance (TA) tracks, or training, must be provided before an entity is eligible for funding.
Can I receive more than $100,000?

Your total awarded amount cannot exceed $100,000 over the 5-year course of the program. This maximum amount of $100,000 remains true whether it comes from the NIFBC, your RFBC, or a combination of the two Centers, and does not reset to allow you to receive additional funding at any time.
Where can I find the application for NIFBC funding?

Applications will be filled out via invitation to apply. We are currently reviewing our list of pilot participants from our first round of TA tracks for eligibility and then invitations will be sent out accordingly.
What exactly do you mean by Technical Assistance?

Our Technical Assistance tracks involve practical application and ongoing engagement. This may include networking opportunities, sustained mentorship, tours, hands-on demonstrations of tools and applications, pre/post surveys, online learning modules or platforms with verified content, documentation of TA concept application, post-event engagement with IAC staff, and/or follow-up consultations.
What types of information will NIFBC Technical Assistance tracks be providing?

We plan to provide a broad spectrum of Technical Assistance tracks potentially covering (but not limited to) the following topics: Legal considerations Tax planning Access to Capital Short-Term Capital Loan Processes Risk Mitigation Strategies Land classifications, land fractionation, estate planning Recovery and Stewardship of Tribal Homelands: Learning about the restoration of American Indian Nations' and People's control over their rightful lands. Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) Meat and Poultry Processing Additional topics and areas for Technical Assistance (TA) include but are not limited to business planning, export training, trade show/product development, and regenerative business practices.
How many hours of Technical Assistance do I need to complete to be eligible for funding?

Technical Assistance must be five hours or longer to ensure depth and effectiveness and to be eligible for a subaward. *Note: In order to qualify for application an entity will need to receive their own TA hours.
What type of business is eligible for NIFBC funding?

Eligible entities include both for-profit and non-profit organizations that qualify as small to mid-sized entities within the local food value chain (including Producers (e.g., commodities, fruits, and vegetables, or livestock), Aggregators, Distributors, or Food Access Points (e.g., food co-ops, farmers markets)). Our process for determining and documenting sub-awardee eligibility is designed to emphasize investment in food businesses within and in service to Indian Country. In order for an entity to qualify for a subaward they must meet one of the following criteria: The applicant’s defined location is on federally designated land; The applicant’s defined location is on tribal boundaries; The applicant’s product distribution prioritizes Tribal Members or Communities and their economies either through services and sales, or revenue.
What qualifies as a “small to mid-sized”?

Businesses with fewer than 50 employees and less than $3 million in Gross Annual Revenues.
What kind of projects will be eligible for funding?

The NIFBC’s allowable costs and activities include the following categories: Staff time (labor and training) Business planning activities Software implementation Value-chain and supply-chain coordination and innovation Product development Marketing and outreach Storage and distribution Supply-chain analysis and strategy development to identify supply-chain gaps and specialization opportunities Special purpose equipment that increases business capacity, as identified in the TA Track (this can include vehicles) Minor facility improvements on pre-existing structures that neither adds to the permanent value of the facility, or appreciably prolongs its intended life, but keeps it in an efficient operating condition and improves business profitability
Where can I sign up to receive updates on NIFBC?

Please stay tuned to the NIFBC’s website, Indianag.org/intertribalfbc, for ongoing updates, in addition to the IAC newsletter. If you are not signed up for IAC’s newsletter, you can do so at this link: Signup Form (constantcontactpages.com).
I’m not qualified for NIFBC funds, is there other funding available?

If you do not qualify to receive funding from NIFBC funds, the Regional Food Business Center in your region will have funding opportunities available to you. Each Center has their own set of standards and eligibility criteria for awarding their Business Builder grants so you can expect the application process will look different than ours. Here is a link to find out which Center is supporting your region: https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/local-regional/rfbcp.

Find more FAQs on the USDA's Regional Food Business Centers FAQ page.

Click on the links below to learn more about Centers in the following areas:

RESOURCES

Q: What can I do to prepare myself/my business for NIFBC funding?

A great starting point to prepare for receiving a NIFBC Business Builder subaward is obtaining a UEI for your business/entity. A UEI is a Unique Entity Identifier number that allows you to receive federal funding. To apply for one, go to www.SAM.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions For Obtaining A Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)

Q: I’ve been trying to get my UEI and I get an error code. What can I do to fix this?

A: If you’re using the Safari browser, try switching to Google Chrome and this should stop you from getting the error code.

Q: Which drop down options should I pick on SAM.gov when applying for my UEI?

1. "I want to do business..."
- Select: With a business or other organization which receives funds directly from the US Federal Government.
2. "Select the answer that best fits your intentions today..."
- Select: Apply as a grantee for federal funds distributed by a government entity other than the US Government
3. "Who required me to apply..."
- Select: A non-profit organization

Q: What can I expect after sending the NIFBC team my UEI?

A: Once we have your UEI, we can identify and verify if your business size and geographic location meet our eligibility criteria. If eligible, you can expect to be invited by our team to apply which involves filing out a Community Impact Story outlining how you plan to utilize your subaward.

Contact IAC to learn more.

Email us at nifbc@indianag.org or fill out the contact form linked below for more information about IFBC.

CONTACT US