Inaugural Buy Indian Day highlights historic investments in Indian Country

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WASHINGTON – The Department of the Interior co-hosted a Buy Indian Small Business Industry Day from April 25-26, 2023, with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), on campus of The Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville, Maryland. The event, a first for both agencies, highlighted the Biden-Harris Administration’s focus on promoting Native-owned small businesses and expanding the economic opportunities in Indian Country.

“Together we celebrate the essential contributions of Native-owned businesses across our entire economy. We also acknowledge and re-commit to the work ahead to ensure Native-owned businesses can grow and thrive long into the future,” said Deputy Secretary of the Interior Tommy Beaudreau during his opening remarks. “With historic investments through the American Recovery Act, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and Inflation Reduction Act, we have invested $45 billion across Indian Country in just 20 months – these investments span every facet of our work.”

More than 150 representatives of Native American and Tribally owned small businesses, and other stakeholders, participated in this unique opportunity to network and engage directly with contracting and key officials from Interior and HHS.

The inaugural event featured themed panel discussions about the Buy Indian Act and specific contractor opportunities for Native-owned small businesses. Panel members provided participants with insight into the federal acquisition process, outlined the need for small businesses to thoroughly understand federal acquisition requirements and stressed that equitable access to small business resources is a top Administration priority.  

“Every single dollar invested in Indian Country will help create jobs and bring indigenous communities and business to the forefront of our economy,” Deputy Secretary Beaudreau concluded.  

The two-day networking event also included an in-person federal marketplace and trade show, with information booths staffed by 19 program offices within Interior and HHS. Native-owned small businesses were able to meet with contracting and program officials from both departments to gain a better understanding of agency requirements.  

The inaugural Buy Indian event concluded with a full day of virtual “match-making” sessions, hosted by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development APEX Accelerator, that brought together Native-owned small businesses and potential government buyers. These essential one-on-one engagements afford small businesses with a forum to gain a better understanding of the federal procurement requirements and fosters contracting with Native-owned small businesses.

“Small businesses are the engines of America’s economy and we are thrilled to work with our partners at HHS to increase contracting opportunities for Native-owned small businesses,” said Colleen Finnegan, Director of Interior’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU).

Participants expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to connect with other Native-owned small businesses and lauded the persistent federal investments in the growth of small businesses.

The successful event was an appropriate lead-in to the ongoing National Small Business Week, April 30 to May 6, 2023, which recognizes the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. For more than 50 years, National Small Business Week has recognized the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners.

“I’m thankful for our growing partnership with HHS and look forward to building broader awareness of the many federal opportunities available for Native-owned and other small and disadvantaged businesses,” said Finnegan.

Interior is committed to expanding economic opportunities in Indian Country and encourages all small businesses to leverage the many education and training resources available through the APEX Accelerator program (formerly Procurement Technical Assistance Center) so they are prepared to participate in federal, state, and local government contracts. To learn more about doing business with Interior contact the OSDBU at www.doi.gov/pmb/osdbu or visit the APEX Accelerator website at https://www.apexaccelerators.us/.

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