Scaling Together
Connecting Tribal Talent with Enterprise OpportunitiesThe
Strategic Partnerships & Joint Ventures Program bridges the gap between small businesses and larger commercial markets. Facilitating business-to-business (B2B) networks, corporate supply chain integration, and tribal procurement preferences to help established tribal entrepreneurs secure high-value contracts and build long-term economic resilience.
Partnership & Procurement Pathways
Three distinct avenues are available to integrate tribal member businesses into broader economic pipelines
1. Tribal Procurement Preference
Gain priority access to internal tribal purchasing structures and infrastructure projects.
- How it Works: Certified tribal-member-owned businesses receive preferential bidding status for goods, services, and construction contracts issued by tribal entities.
- Best For: Contractors, professional service providers, suppliers, and commercial vendors.
2. Corporate Supply Chain Integration
Position your business to meet the supplier diversity requirements of major regional and national corporations.
- How it Works: We provide the certification support, compliance training, and direct introductions needed to pitch your services to corporate supply chains.
- Best For: Light manufacturing, logistics, tech services, and wholesale distributors.
3. Joint Venture Partnerships
Form strategic alliances with established firms to bid on larger federal, state, or private contracts.
- How it Works: Pair your unique tribal business advantages with the operational capacity of an experienced partner to pursue complex, large-scale projects together.
- Best For: Rapidly growing enterprises ready to scale up their project capacity.
Certification & Readiness Criteria
To participate in the partnership and procurement pipeline, businesses must complete the Tribal Enterprise Certification (TEC) process. Baseline requirements include:
- Ownership: Minimum 51% ownership, operation, and control by an enrolled member of the Hannahville Indian Community.
- Operational History: At least one full year of active business operations (or a proven track record of industry experience by the principal owners).
- Compliance: Up-to-date business registrations, tax clearances, and relevant industry licensing.
- Capability Statement: A professional one-page document detailing business core competencies, past performance, and equipment/capacity details.
The Partnership Onboarding Pipeline
- Step 1: Digital Intake Profile — Submit a business capability profile and express interest in specific contract sectors.
- Step 2: Certification Review — Tribal Administration or LARA verifies tribal ownership and issues credentials.
- Step 3: Matchmaking & Strategy — Match business with upcoming tribal RFPs, corporate diversity coordinators, or potential joint-venture allies.
- Step 4: Proposal Support — Access technical assistance to help review contracts, refine pricing models, and draft proposals.
