Indian Equity Fund (IEF) Small Business Grants

PURPOSE: The Indian Equity Fund (IEF) Small Business Grant is a grant to assist a start-up or expanding Native American business in Montana. This money can be used for a variety of activities such as the purchase of new equipment or the development of a new product line. A total of $320,000 is available to fund Native American businesses in Montana.

Download cashflow spreadsheet here.

GRANT APPLICATION PERIOD: September 1, 2023 to October 31, 2023

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS: The funds are available to enrolled members of the eight federally recognized tribes in Montana. All applications must include documentation of tribal enrollment in the form of a Certified Indian Blood (CIB) Form or tribal ID.  An application will be considered incomplete without this information.

GRANT AMOUNT: Awards for individual businesses can be up to $14,000 with a minimum dollar to dollar cash or in-kind match ($1:$1) and must be firmly committed and documented in the application.

GUIDELINES: Click HERE for the 2024 IEF program guidelines.