Native American Language Preservation and Maintenance-Esther Martinez Immersion

Background
The Administration for Children and Families, Administration for Native Americans announces the availability of fiscal year (FY) 2023 funds for the Native American Language Preservation and Maintenance - Esther Martinez Immersion (EMI) program. The EMI program provides funding for community-based projects that ensure continuing vitality of Native languages through immersion-based instruction. Programs funded under the EMI notice of funding opportunity must meet the requirements for either a Native American Language Nest, or a Native American Survival School.

Grant Details
The purpose of the Native American Language Preservation and Maintenance - EMI program is to provide financial assistance to community-driven projects designed to preserve Native American languages through Native American language nests and Native American language survival schools. The program focuses support for projects that are based in teaching and building capacity for language immersion instruction. Funded EMI projects reflect measurable outcomes and include specific strategies for achieving intended objectives. Programs funded under this NOFO must meet one of the following requirements as specified in the Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act (42 U.S.C. § 2991b-3(b)(7)).

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants under this announcement include incorporated non-federally recognized tribes, incorporated state-recognized Indian tribes, federally-recognized Indian tribes, consortia of Indian tribes, incorporated non-profit multi-purpose community-based Indian organizations, urban Indian centers, native community development financial institutions, Alaska Native villages, non-profit village consortia, non-profit Alaska Native multipurpose community-based organizations, non-profit Alaska Native regional corporations/associations in Alaska with village-specific projects, non-profit Alaska native community entities or tribal governing bodies as recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, public and non-profit private agencies serving native Hawaiians, national or regional incorporated non-profit native American organizations with native American community-specific objectives, public and non-profit private agencies serving native peoples from Guam, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; tribal colleges and universities; colleges and universities located in Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands that serve Native American Pacific Islanders.

Period of Performance
All EMI grants must have a budget period start date of July 1. Applicants may propose projects with project periods consisting of either 36, 48 or 60 months.

Grant Value
The estimated total funding for this grant opportunity is $1,500,000 with an expected number of awards being 5. The award ceiling is $300,000 per budget period with an average projected award amount of $285,000 per budget period.