Economic Advancement Grants for Local Empowerment (EAGLE)

The Economic Advancement Grants for Local Empowerment (EAGLE) program is administered by the Administration for Native Americans (ANA), a division within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ANA is dedicated to supporting Native communities through funding initiatives that promote economic development, cultural preservation, and self-sufficiency. This forecasted funding opportunity reflects ANA’s continued commitment to strengthening Native economies by investing in community-driven, sustainable projects that align with long-term social and economic goals. The purpose of the EAGLE program is to foster economic growth and resilience within Native communities by supporting projects that advance business creation and workforce development. The program emphasizes innovative sectors such as regenerative agriculture, artificial intelligence, tribal energy sovereignty, and human capital development. Through these focus areas, ANA aims to improve employability, expand local enterprise opportunities, and enhance overall community well-being while reinforcing cultural values and governance capacity. Funding under this program is expected to support a wide range of activities, including infrastructure development, job creation initiatives, cultural education programs, and community-designed economic solutions. Specific program areas include Seventh-Generation Greenhouses for food production and local enterprise, Microgrids for energy resilience, Welders to Elders for workforce development, Tradition in Action to support intergenerational knowledge transfer, and IDEAS initiatives that empower communities to design solutions tailored to their needs. Awards are anticipated to be fully funded for a three-year project period, allowing recipients to implement and sustain meaningful long-term initiatives. Eligible applicants include a broad array of Native-serving entities such as federally recognized tribes, state-recognized and non-federally recognized tribes, tribal consortia, Native nonprofit organizations, Alaska Native villages and corporations, Native Community Development Financial Institutions, Urban Indian organizations, and institutions serving Native populations in U.S. territories. Certain nonprofit organizations without 501(c)(3) status may also be eligible. Individuals and foreign entities are explicitly excluded. Faith-based and community-based organizations may apply if they meet the stated eligibility criteria. The application process is expected to be conducted electronically through Grants.gov, with submissions required by the specified deadline. While this opportunity is currently forecasted, the estimated application due date is August 7, 2026, with submissions required by 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Awards are anticipated to be made by September 30, 2026, which also serves as the expected project start date. No pre-application requirements such as letters of intent are specified in the forecast. EAGLE is a discretionary grant program with an estimated total funding pool of 24 million dollars and approximately 31 awards expected. Individual awards are projected to range from 300,000 to 1,000,000 dollars. A cost-sharing or matching requirement is indicated, though specific details are not provided in the forecast. As a forecasted opportunity, additional guidance, evaluation criteria, and application requirements are expected to be released in the full Notice of Funding Opportunity. Interested applicants are encouraged to monitor updates and prepare early to align proposed projects with ANA’s priorities.