Social and Economic Development Strategies -SEDS

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Administration for Native Americans (ANA) announces the availability of Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 funds for the Social and Economic Development Strategies (SEDS) program. This program is focused on community-driven projects designed to grow local economies, strengthen Native American families, including the preservation of Native American cultures, and decrease the high rate of current challenges caused by the lack of community-based businesses, and social and economic infrastructure in Native American communities. Native American communities include American Indian tribes (federally-recognized and non-federally recognized), Native Hawaiians, Alaska Natives, and Native American Pacific Islanders. Legislative Priority Areas for Economic Development Due to the recent Congressional passage of the Indian Community Economic Enhancement Act of 2020, ANA will prioritize funding for applications seeking assistance for the following: (1) the development of a tribal code or courts system for purposes of economic development, including commercial codes, training for court personnel, and the development of non-profit subsidiaries or other tribal business structures; (2) the development of a Native community development financial institution, including training and administrative expenses; and (3) the development of a tribal master plan for community and economic development and infrastructure. The economic development legislative priorities will be incorporated into new program areas of interest for the SEDS NOFO. Ten bonus points will be awarded to applications that address one or more of these priority areas. Applications that propose a legislative priority project should include the economic priority area(s) in the project goal, all objectives and indicators as reflected in the project's framework, project approach, Objective Work Plan, and Outcome Tracker. Reviewers should provide 10 points if all elements are included in the application to address one or more of the economic development priority areas. Native American Community Priority Areas: Native Veterans, Emergency Preparedness and Response, and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Through tribal consultations and various meetings throughout Native communities, ANA has identified several priority areas that may benefit from funding for community-based solutions through the SEDS program in FY 2022. The priority areas are as follows: Native Veterans, Emergency Preparedness and Response, and/or Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons. To ensure ANA is addressing these priority areas, bonus points will be awarded. Applications that propose a community priority project should include the community priority area(s) in the project goal, all objectives and indicators as reflected in the project's framework, project approach, Objective Work Plan, and Outcome Tracker. In addition, to receive bonus points for the Native Veterans priority area, Native Veterans must be included as the target population, either as participants or beneficiaries.