CHARLOTTE – Chris James, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Native American Affairs for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), signed a Strategic Alliance Memorandum (SAM) with North Carolina Indian Economic Development Initiative (NCIEDI) on Friday, March 1, 2013.

The signing was part of the 38th Annual NC Unity Conference, sponsored by the United Tribes of North Carolina in Greensboro, North Carolina. NCIEDI's mission is to advocate and facilitate economic development in North Carolina's American Indian communities by promoting American Indian business expansion, opportunities and partnerships.

The organization was created to address the need for a state-wide non-profit arm to foster economic development and tap into private sector and government resources. The SAM signifies a joint effort by NCIEDI and SBA to promote small business through education and community outreach. The signed SAM will allow both entities to work closer together to ensure small Native American business interests are adequately addressed in the state.

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