On Monday, May 10, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) announced the much-awaited distribution of $20 Billion to Tribal Governments for Coronavirus Relief. This announcement described the methodology Treasury used to allocate the funds as well as the timeline for distribution, upcoming information sessions, and the regulation determining allowable uses and requirements for the funds.

To receive the first payment, Tribal governments must submit their information online through the Treasury Submission Portal. The deadline to complete the first submission is May 24, 2021 at 11:59 pm PST. Once a Tribal government has submitted their information it will take approximately 4-5 business days to review and process during which the Tribal point of contact will receive status updates. Once the documentation and information submitted is found to be accurate and sufficient, then the tribal contact will receive information regarding the amount and timing of the first payment.

For More Information, See NAFOA’s Latest Broadcast

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration is soliciting experts to evaluate grant proposals for three broadband connectivity programs that will award over $1.5 billion to further national broadband goals and assist with COVID response and recovery efforts.

NTIA will conduct a merit review of applications submitted to these programs. The merit review will involve teams of technical experts that evaluate applications against established review criteria specific to each program. For more information and to volunteer as a reviewer, please visit the NTIA website.

The Department of Homeland Security is seeking presenters for the August 9-13 Tribal-DHS homeland security virtual summit 2021. Participants will gather for approximately three hours each day (starting at 2:00 ET), and the agenda will include regional, topical, and sector breakout sessions to share best practices and experiences across the homeland security arena. The focus is to have sessions of interest by tribes and joint presentations of information.

DHS is seeking presenters and panelists to participate in virtual discussions on homeland security topics of interest to tribes and tribal organizations. Participants from DHS Agencies and Components will take part in providing useful information to Tribal Nations, tribal organizations, and others with tribal homeland security interests. I

If you are interested in presenting: Please spend a few minutes and share your interests in the short response form.

The MIT Solve 2021 Indigenous Communities Fellowship is looking for its next class of Fellows! A $10,000 grant will be provided to each selected Fellow. Please note that all innovators own and retain the rights to their own work, technology, data, and intellectual property—the Indigenous Communities Fellowship serves to provide Native innovators with the support and resources they need to advance their work.

The deadline to submit a Solution is Tuesday, June 1, 2021, at 12:00 PM EDT.

Executive of the Year – Virtual 39th Annual Conference from NAFOA.org on Vimeo.

AMERIND: TRIBES PROTECTING TRIBES: MORE IMPORTANT NOW THAN EVER BEFORE[/sub] “These are, indeed, challenging times. As Tribal Finance Officers, you have witnessed the devastating toll of COVID-19 on our Tribes and Tribal communities. You understand the importance of knowing your insurance provider will stand by policyholders when impacts of the pandemic threaten their financial security. “Tribes Protecting Tribes” is why AMERIND was founded by more than 400 Tribal Nations and – together – we will weather this storm.”

Check out the Spring 2021 NAFOA Navigator (page 105-106) about how AMERIND has and continues to serves Tribes by:

• Protecting Our People, Responding to a Pandemic
• Working to Close the Digital Divide
• Providing Assurance of Financial Stability
• Looking Beyond the Pandemic