Native 8(a): The 8(a) Program

The Small Business Administration 8(a) Business Development Program was enacted in 1958 to help small disadvantaged businesses compete. Congress enacted laws that allow Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) to qualify as minority and economically disadvantaged businesses in 1988 and 1992 respectively

• Native participation within the Small Business Administration 8(a) Business Development Program, encourages Federal agencies to contract with Native Businesses, because those businesses have been designated by Congress as minority and disadvantaged entities.
  
• Native 8(a) businesses are community-based (as opposed to individually-based) and owned by native people.
  
• These Native 8 (a) Businesses are working as Congress intended, creating economic opportunities and social benefits for entire communities of Native peoples.
  
• Participation by Native Businesses in the 8(a) program has helped Native communities develop their own business tools and become active participants in the U.S. economy – across all states.
  
• It also provides good jobs for Americans in virtually every state, along with the District of Columbia.Native 8(a) works.