ANA is committed to advancing the social and economic self-sufficiency of Native communities. Sustainable economic growth and social well-being go hand in hand, as building thriving Native communities requires both a strong local economy and the local capacity to sustain it. Through its economic development grant programs, ANA supports Tribes, Native organizations, and Native communities as they design and carry out locally determined strategies to strengthen their economies, meet community needs, and exercise self-governance.
Economic Advancement Grants for Local Empowerment (EAGLE)
EAGLE grants are ANA's flagship competitive financial assistance program supporting locally determined economic and social development projects. This is targeted, regionally focused funding shaped by community consultation.
Economic development, as ANA supports it, means:
Developing and implementing culturally appropriate strategies to meet community social service needs and well-being
Promoting the creation of sustainable local economies to enhance economic independence
Increasing the ability of Tribal, Alaska Native village, and territorial governments to exercise local control and decision-making, and to develop and enforce laws, regulations, codes, and policies that reflect community priorities
These principles guide ANA's economic development grant programs, which provide federal support for self-determination and self-governance among Native American people in on- and off-reservation communities alike.