$250 Million in Federal Capital Made Available to Native Businesses in Oklahoma
Native Commerce News is sponsored by the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Oklahoma (AICCO), dedicated to expanding Indian Country commerce across the globe.
(OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.) Nearly $250 million in federal small business funding is available through Oklahoma tribes, offering a major opportunity for Native entrepreneurs and tribally owned businesses seeking capital.
Accessing capital can be one of the biggest challenges for small businesses, but it is also essential for maintaining operations and expansion, particularly in Indian Country.
That was the focus of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Oklahoma (AICCO) Oklahoma City Chapter’s January luncheon, where Cindy Logsdon, CEO/Director of Citizen Potawatomi Community Development Corporation (CPCDC), presented information about the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) and how tribes and Native-owned businesses can access these funds.
Vice President and Tribal Relations Manager at Sovereign Bank and AICCO OKC Chapter President Debbie Lindsey says these funds are a great way for tribes to support Native entrepreneurs and businesses and build stronger tribal enterprises.
“For the first time, tribes have direct access to these federal resources,” said Lindsey. “SSBCI has opened new doors, putting flexible capital directly in tribal hands to support Native businesses, tribally owned enterprises, and local economies.”
According to the U.S. Department of Treasury, the SSBCI is a $10 billion dollar program. $500 million dollars in SSBCI funds are sitting in the hands of tribal governments. $250 million dollars of that money is with tribes in Oklahoma, including:
- Caddo Nation of Oklahoma
- Cherokee Nation
- Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes
- Chickasaw Nation
- Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
- Citizen Potawatomi Nation
- Comanche Nation
- Muscogee (Creek) Nation
- Osage Nation
- Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians
- Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma
- Seminole Nation of Oklahoma
- Seneca Cayuga Nation
Lindsey says there are key steps Native businesses, entrepreneurs and tribal enterprises should take if they want access to this money. In her work at Sovereign Bank, she works with businesses who want access to these funds.
“SSBCI has allowed us to structure more flexible and impactful financing solutions,” said Lindsey. “It has opened doors for Native entrepreneurs and tribally owned businesses who may otherwise face barriers to accessing the capital needed to grow.”
Native businesses and entrepreneurs seeking funding must first identify what kind of structure their tribe uses to approve and distribute SSBCI funds, as each tribe has its own protocols.
“Preparation is key,” said Lindsey. “Businesses should have updated financial statements, and a clear understanding of how much capital they need, and how it will be used. SSBCI is not a grant program, it supports loans, loan participation, collateral support, and other credit enhancements. The goal is to help Native-owned businesses access capital that allows them to grow, create jobs, and strengthen the local tribal economy.”
In October of 2025, Tribal Business News reported tribal governments had only spent 20 to 30% of their SSBCI funds.
The funds will be available to be dispersed through the end of 2027.
Interested Native business owners should contact their tribal lending department or a participating financial institution to see what they might qualify for.
“SSBCI is more than funding - it’s a powerful tool to strengthen tribal sovereignty, expand economic opportunity, and build lasting prosperity for Native communities,” said Lindsey.
