NAFOA’s Career Basics program for youth and young professionals is open for summer registration. Complete the free online course to qualify for the Leadership Summit and get a chance to join a network of accomplished young Native leaders. Photo courtesy NAFOA

5 Things You Need to Know this Week

COVID-19 updates and remote opportunities in the new normal.

1. POLICY:

CONGRESS PASSES LEGISLATION THAT EASES PPP RULES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

On the evening of June 3, 2020, Congress passed The Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020. This fast-tracked legislation provides small business owners who have received loans through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) with more flexibility in using their funds.

The legislation gives small business owners more flexibility by:

• Extending the eight-week period where the funds must be spent to 24 weeks or the end of the year (whichever comes first).
• Increasing the amount of time that businesses have to repay any money owed their loan from two years to five years.
• Lowering the requirement from 75% to 60% of funds that must be used for payroll expenses.
• Pushes back June 30, 2020 deadline to rehire workers to December 31, 2020.
• Provides leeway on loan forgiveness to businesses who are able to demonstrate that they were unable to rehire workers due to safety concerns. 

Read NAFOA’s broadcast about the Act.

2.  COVID-19 UPDATES:
COVID-19 CASES STILL INCREASING IN INDIAN COUNTRY

Source: NCAI COVID-19 Data Situation Summary

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Policy Research Center has tracked publicly available data on COVID-19 cases and deaths in Indian Country during the pandemic.

According to updates published on the Indian Health Service (IHS) coronavirus website, total COVID-19 cases and new COVID-19 cases per day continue to increase in the Indian health system and cases are now above the 10,000 mark. Cases also continue to increase in all IHS Areas.

Read the Full COVID-19 Situation Summary from NCAI.

3. FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS:
INTERN REMOTELY WITH NAFOA’S EDUCATION AND POLICY TEAMS

NAFOA is seeking two interns—a youth outreach coordinator intern to assist in expanding outreach to Native American youth and young professionals, and a policy intern to help with NAFOA’s advocacy work. Both internships will be remote and part-time for a duration of 6-weeks. Interns will be expected to commit up to 20 hours per week. Additionally, interns will receive a $1,000.00 stipend. 

Applicants must be at least a rising Junior in college and authorized to work in the US.

4.  FOR TRIBES:
BECOME A NAFOA MEMBER TRIBE

NAFOA serves tribal governments through advocacy; leadership development; initiatives to educate our youth; and by bringing together tribal leadership, tribal professionals, and industry partners needed for economic success. Implementing a tribal membership program has been instrumental in making that happen as we cannot do it alone. To support our work and Indian Country, we encourage you to become a Member Tribe today.

If you are already a Member Tribe, thank you for your support. Your renewal allows us to achieve our common purpose – to grow tribal economies.

Note: Tribes may be able to charge NAFOA’s membership fee to your federal grants. Under the cost principles of the OMB Uniform Guidance, there are allowable items for membership in professional organizations that focus on capacity building and professional development (§200.454  and §200.472). Additionally, membership and membership renewal is an approved expenditure for the Coronavirus Relief Fund.

5. OPPORTUNITIES:
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR ACCOUNTING AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT

• The National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC) is currently seeking Request for Proposals (RFP) from qualified individuals and firms for the performance of accounting services. The anticipated start date would be August 1, 2020. Proposals will be received until 3:30 p.m. EDT on Friday, June 19, 2020. Email your proposals to Bill Picotte, Deputy Director at wpicotte@naihc.net.
• NAFOA is also seeking proposals from qualified, experienced professionals to facilitate the development of a grants management curriculum, designed for tribal employees managing federal and private grants. The curriculum developer is responsible for the course content and defining the online and on-site pedagogy models. Email submissions to Pamela Fagan, NAFOA Operations Manager at pfagan@nafoa.org.