United States Small Business Administration and Native American Contractors Association Sign Historic Strategic Alliance Memorandum

Strategic Alliance supports Small Business Growth

WASHINGTON, July 3, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Friday, June 28, 2013, leaders of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Native American Contractors Association (NACA) signed a historic Strategic Alliance Memorandum (SAM) to meet the needs of the growing small business community.

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"By combining our resources with NACA, the SBA can continue to spur new business growth and innovation for the nearly 240,000 Native American-owned small businesses," said Chris James, Assistant Administrator for the SBA's Office of Native American Affairs. "I want to thank NACA for their commitment to this effort as we work to strengthen and expand small business development within the Native American business community."

The SAM is designed to foster mutual understanding and a working relationship between the SBA and NACA to strengthen and expand small business development in American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities across the United States.

"This is an exciting time for NACA as we continue to work with the SBA in solidifying a formal alliance in our work towards the advancement of small business nationwide," said NACA Executive Director Kevin Allis. "We believe the SBA is vital for small business growth and will continue to support the SBA's initiatives for the growth of Indian Country."

SBA and NACA support small business growth through the utilization of the Small Business Administration's 8(a) Business Development Program.

For more information, please contact Ricki McCarroll at (202) 758-2676 or [email protected].

U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. We recognize that small business is critical to our economic recovery and strength, to building America's future, and to helping the United States compete in today's global marketplace. Although SBA has grown and evolved in the years since it was established in 1953, the bottom line mission remains the same. The SBA helps Americans start, build, and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam.

Native American Contractors Association

NACA is a national Native advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C., and represents Tribal, Alaska Native Corporations, and Native Hawaiian Organizations across the country. NACA seeks to protect the economic self-sufficiency of America's indigenous people that is enhanced through the participation of its members in the SBA 8(a) program. NACA's members represent and provide benefits for nearly 700,000 Tribal members, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians.

SOURCE Native American Contractors Association