Tribal Tourism Grant Program (TTGP) FY 2021 | TRIBALTOURISMFY2021

Opportunity Information: Apply for TRIBALTOURISMFY2021

The Tribal Tourism Grant Program (TTGP) FY 2021 is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior through the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), specifically the Office of Indian Economic Development (OIED) and its Division of Economic Development (DED). Its main purpose is to help Tribes and eligible Tribal organizations build practical, decision-ready planning capacity for tourism development, including the related infrastructure that often needs to be considered alongside tourism projects. The program is closely tied to the goals of the NATIVE Act (Public Law 114-221, enacted 09/23/2016), which focuses on strengthening Native American tourism efforts and supporting economic development in Tribal communities.

Funding is intended for two core types of planning work that typically come before major tourism investments. First, the program supports Tribal tourism feasibility studies, which are meant to help applicants evaluate whether specific tourism ideas are realistic, sustainable, and worth pursuing. These studies generally help a Tribe or Tribal organization assess potential visitor demand, operational needs, site constraints, staffing and training considerations, cultural and environmental factors, and the likely financial performance of proposed projects. The emphasis is on giving decision-makers reliable information so they can move forward confidently, adjust the concept, or decide not to proceed based on evidence rather than guesswork.

Second, TTGP FY 2021 funds Tribal tourism business plan development, particularly when there is already a completed feasibility study to build from. Business plan development is aimed at turning an idea that has been vetted into a structured plan for implementation and management. A business plan typically covers the project model, governance and management approach, marketing and partnerships, operations, staffing, financial projections, and timelines. In this solicitation, the business plan component is also positioned as a tool to strengthen readiness for next steps, such as seeking capital, pursuing partnerships, or coordinating infrastructure improvements that support tourism.

A notable feature of the FY 2021 program is that it recognizes the economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the standard pathway of feasibility study followed by business plan development, the program allows funding for business plans that support Tribal tourism businesses working to recover from COVID-19 impacts. This signals that the program is not only about launching new tourism concepts, but also about helping existing or planned Tribal tourism activities adapt, stabilize, and rebuild in a changed market environment.

Eligibility is limited to Native American tribal governments that are federally recognized and Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), consistent with definitions used under the NATIVE Act. The opportunity is categorized under community development and is associated with CFDA number 15.032. The funding instrument is a grant, and the award ceiling is $150,000 per award. The opportunity was created on June 22, 2021, and the original application closing date was August 13, 2021.

• The Bureau of Indian Affairs in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Tribal Tourism Grant Program (TTGP) FY 2021" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.032.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-06-22.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-08-13. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments).

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