Attending NAFOA’s 2017 Fall Finance and Tribal Economies Conference offered learning and networking opportunities. If you were there, you likely ran into me at our Travois booth.
Among the important topics and conversations of the week, we were pleased to hear NAFOA’s ongoing and vocal support for improving access to capital in Indian Country by advocating for expansion of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and New Market Tax Credit (NMTC) programs. For information on NAFOA’s policy positions on these critically important programs, read more here related to the LIHTC program and read more here related to the NMTC program.
For more information on Travois’ work to help tribes stretch their own limited resources leveraging these programs, read more here.
I also had the privilege of talking with Jinky Tenorio, controller of the American Indian Graduate Center (AIGC). Ms. Tenorio fondly recalled her work at the Hopi Tribal Housing Authority where she helped launch its first Low Income Housing Tax Credit development. For more information on other Arizona tribes’ success using the LIHTC program, read more here.
Ms. Tenorio and the AIGC’s mission is to “provide financial support for American Indians and Alaska Natives seeking higher education, and support them in attaining undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees. [They] partner with tribes, the federal government, foundations, corporations, and individuals to ensure the growth and sustainability of scholarships.”
She informed me of a great scholarship opportunity that we said we would be sure to pass on. AIGC recently extended the deadline for the Science Post Graduate Scholarship Fund because of an injection of additional funding availability. This scholarship provides maximum awards of $30,000 per year to eligible students, but time is running out to apply — applications will only be accepted through Oct. 31!
The specific purpose of the Science Post Graduate Scholarship Fund (SPGSF) program is to provide financial assistance to eligible American Indian and Alaska Native graduate and professional degree candidates to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) research in and opportunities for careers with tribal governments and Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) and BIE-funded organizations on- and off-reservation. Future employment with other federal and state agencies and private entities may be eligible if the organization’s primary mission is assistance and support to tribal communities or individuals.
For more information on this exciting scholarship opportunity and other opportunities offered by AIGC, read more here.
Catch up with Travois staff at other industry events this fall and winter. Find out where we’ll be.
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