The Small Business Administration plans to make changes to the 8(a) contracting program for American Indian and Alaska Native businesses.

Draft regulations will be published in the Federal Register next week. SBA officials described the changes as "significant, The Anchorage Daily News reported.

Among other changes, the regulations will limit Native partnerships with non-minority businesses. SBA attorney John Klein told the paper that the change is designed to prevent abuses in the contracting program.

Get the Story:
Changes planned for Native contracting program (The Anchorage Daily News 10/23)
AFN convention speeches address history and change (The Anchorage Daily News 10/23)

Related Stories:
McCaskill promises Native contracting 'reform' (09/29)
SBA asked for status report on Native contracts (08/03)
Editorial: No 'loophole' in Native contracting (7/31)
Murkowski seeks hearing on Native contracting (7/30)
Amendment to limit Native contracts dropped (7/24)
Opinion: Contracts help Alaska Native people (7/23)
NPR: Alaska Native contracts under scrutiny (7/20)
Senate hearing looks at Alaska Native contracts (7/17)
Senate hearing on Native corporation contracts (7/16)
Jobs stay local under Alaska Native ownership (7/16)
Tex Hall: Hunting Indians at Capitol Hill hearing (7/15)
Report cites unfair advantage for Native firms (7/15)
Alaska Native corporations prepare for hearing (7/14)
Interview: Ho-Chunk CEO on Native contracting (07/01)
Senate panel probes Alaska Native corporations (6/24)
Alaska Native corporation worried about probe (5/20)
Alaska Native corporations under more scrutiny (5/19)