How Pandemic Grants Support Native American Businesses

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How a Native American florist is building her business during the pandemic

With help from Google.org

Across the US, COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted people of color, affecting not just business owners, but also the communities they serve and represent.

To help support Native-owned small businesses, Google.org provided $1.25M in grants to the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI).

NCAI’s program helped Shayai Lucero, a tribal member of the Acoma Pueblo and Laguna Pueblo, to keep her floral business running and to hire fellow local tribal members.

“The support from the grant has given me the ongoing opportunity to provide floral services to the communities I live and work in.”

Native American florist Shayai Lucero, NCAI grantee

Additionally, Grow with Google and NCAI have partnered to offer training to more than 11,000 Native business owners and job seekers to gain digital skills.

“Native-owned businesses are vital to tribal communities. I’m proud to help so many recover from the pandemic.”

Olivia Hoeft, Google.org Marketing and citizen of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin

With more Native small businesses now getting support, owners like Shayai are helping to bring new economic opportunities to their communities.

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