Summary of the 92nd Congress Hearing on Indian Affairs: Indian Business Development Program and Crow Tribe Land Compensation, 1970-07-01

Item — Box: LG 67, Folder: 20

Identifier: CAC_CC_009_2_67_20_0017

Staff Only

Summary of the 92nd Congress Hearing on Indian Affairs: Indian Business Development Program and Crow Tribe Land Compensation, 1970-07-01

The document is a memorandum from Bob Gants, a Minority Consultant, to the Minority Members of the Subcommittee on Indian Affairs regarding field hearings held on September 7, 8, and 9, 1971. The hearings focused on the Indian Business Development Program, problems of urban Indians, and compensation to the Crow Tribe for certain lands. Testimony was given on a bill to establish the Indian business development program within the Department of the Interior, which had been in existence for a year and provided grants up to 40% of project costs. The testimony highlighted issues with the grant application process, lack of guidelines, and the need for better procedures and criteria for granting funds. Suggestions were made for preferential treatment for tribal organizations, consideration of job creation, and a low-cost loan program as an alternative to the grant program.