The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs is now accepting applications for $2.4 million in Tribal Tourism Grants, an initiative aimed at helping tribal nations expand their visibility as travel destinations and draw more visitors to their communities.
The program will distribute funds to 10 tribes or tribal organizations, with individual awards ranging from $200,000 to $300,000. The money is intended to help recipients build out tourism offerings, strengthen how they position themselves as destinations, and grow their role in the broader tourism industry — with the ultimate goal of generating jobs and sustainable economic growth at the local level.
Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Billy Kirkland framed the grants as both an economic and cultural opportunity. “Tribal tourism offers a powerful opportunity for tribal nations to share their histories, cultures, and traditions while creating jobs and generating sustainable economic growth in their communities,” Kirkland said in a press release. He added that the investments align with a broader push from the Trump administration and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to encourage economic growth driven by local communities, allowing tribes to build on their cultural and natural resources by expanding existing tourism efforts and reaching new visitors.
The grant program is run by the Office of Indian Economic Development and falls under the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act (NATIVE Act), federal legislation designed to support tribal tourism development.
Tribes and tribal organizations interested in applying must submit proposals through grants.gov by August 7, 2026. Full application details are available at grants.gov’s listing for the program.
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