On May 9, 2011, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) published the attached notice in the FEDERAL REGISTER soliciting grant proposals for the Energy and Mineral Development Program (EMDP). The EMDP is designed to “provide funding to Indian tribes with the mission of assessing, evaluating and promoting energy and mineral resources on Indian trust lands for the economic benefit of Indian mineral owners.” The EMDP is administered through the Division of Energy and Mineral Development (DEMD) within the Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED) and appropriated funds yearly. In previous years, awards have ranged in size from $2,000 to $250,000, with typical amounts in the $50,000 to $120,000 range. Proposals are due no later than June 23, 2011, but applicants are encouraged to submit proposals in advance of this date to allow time for DEMD staff to review them and contact applicants regarding any needed revisions.
The notice defines energy and mineral development projects as those based on exploration, assessment, feasibility, and market studies. Awards are for one-year projects or one-year portions of a larger project broken into phases (grant disclaimer: funding levels change each year so continued funding of multi-year projects is not guaranteed). Eligible energy projects include conventional as well as renewable; however for FY 2011, there is a significant portion of EMDP’s budget earmarked for renewable energy projects as well as a small portion earmarked for industrial mineral development projects such as sand and gravel. A higher priority will be placed on funding projects which indicate a potential to generate tribal jobs and income.
Please let us know if we may provide additional information regarding the Energy and Mineral Development Program.
