EXIM Commemorates Native American Heritage Month with Small Business Tools

During Native American Heritage Month, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) recognizes the immeasurable contributions the first Americans made, and continue to make, to the development and success of the United States. Each November, the nation honors the heritage and traditions of these diverse cultures and communities.

In 2023, the nation's American Indian and Alaska Native population stood at 7.4 million, according to the most recent U.S. Census data. To honor their legacy, EXIM President and Chair Reta Jo Lewis is presenting a special message from EXIM.

EXIM President and Chair Reta Jo Lewis honors Native American Heritage Month with a special message. You also can view her message here.

Providing Resources for Growing Small Businesses

For Native-owned businesses, exporting builds on historic trade routes and provides an opportunity to reach customers worldwide. Not only does it benefit the individual businesses, but it also helps develop the next generation of entrepreneurs.

"The reason why the exporting program is so vital to Native American businesses and minority-owned businesses is that it helps them during times of fluctuations, in dips in sales, but mainly to help them increase their revenue in different marketplaces. A lot of them are only working locally within the United States, but opening up those international markets is a great place for them to help them increase their revenues and sales," said Melissa Cody, Export Business Development Specialist for the Arizona Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Export Center, which is operated by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED).

The most recent Census Bureau data found that in 2021:

• There were 48,582 employer businesses, meaning those business with more than one employee, owned by American Indians and Alaska Natives.
• Those businesses created jobs for 307,933 employees.
• They generated an estimated $54.4 billion in receipts.

EXIM's Minority and Women Owned Business Division (MWOB) can assist Native-owned businesses with the trade finance tools they need to begin or expand exporting their products worldwide.

To help spread the word about EXIM financing to underserved communities, the MWOB team works directly with companies that are owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQ+ community as well as rural and startup businesses, helping them access EXIM financing and navigate the next steps on their exporting journey. The MWOB Division is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2024.

As part of those efforts, EXIM recently launched an innovative new product - the Equity Express Select (EQS) export credit insurance policy, an insurance tool created to help qualifying companies begin or expand their export business. The EQS insurance product is designed to help businesses start or expand their exporting journey and then graduate to one of EXIM's other export credit insurance products. It is supported by an in-house customer service team that will guide companies through the application and servicing process.

Honoring the Heritage and Contributions of Native Peoples

The modern observance of Native American Heritage Month dates to 1916, when New York became the first state to celebrate American Indian Day. That followed an effort by Red Fox James, a member of the Blackfeet Nation, who rode across the country on horseback garnering approval from 24 states for a day honoring American Indians, which he presented to the White House.

It was more than seven decades later before that vision came to fruition, when President George H.W. Bush signed a joint congressional resolution in 1990 designating the month of November as "National American Indian Heritage Month." Similar proclamations have been issued every year since 1994 with variants of the name, including "Native American Heritage Month" and "American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month."

This year, in proclaiming November as National Native American Heritage Month, President Biden noted that "indigenous peoples' history in the United States is defined by strength, survival, and a deep commitment to and pride in their heritage, right to self-governance, and ways of life." There are currently 574 federally recognized Indian tribes, and 325 federally recognized American Indian reservations, according to the Census Bureau.

"During National Native American Heritage Month, we honor the history, rich cultures, and vast contributions of Native peoples. We celebrate the hundreds of Tribal Nations that are ushering in a new era in our Nation-to-Nation relationships. And we recommit to respecting Tribal sovereignty and self-determination and working in partnership with Tribal Nations to bring new prosperity and security to Native peoples," President Biden said.

To find out how EXIM can help your business compete in the global marketplace, schedule a free consultation with a trade finance specialist and launch your export journey today.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.