The Tribal College Grant program was established during the 2013 Legislative Session to provide funding to the five tribally controlled community colleges for workforce training and entrepreneurial assistance. This is done through:
- Development of curriculum.
- Purchase of equipment and technology.
- Faculty training.
- Student recruitment.
- Facility renovation to develop, expand, or redesign a program
Eligible institutions include Cankdeska Cikana Community College, Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College, Sitting Bull College, Turtle Mountain Community College, and United Tribes Technical College.
A tribally controlled community college in this state may apply to the department of commerce for a job training grant in such manner as the Department of commerce prescribes. The Department of Commerce shall consult with the executive director of the Indian affairs commission to determine eligible tribally controlled community colleges.
Any grant awarded may be used at the discretion of the college:
- For development of programs that assist in providing certificates or degrees to North Dakota students attending the college that qualify the student to obtain jobs for which applicants are being sought within the state, as identified by the Department of Commerce, Job Service North Dakota, or any of the federally recognized Indian tribes within North Dakota; or
- To assist any North Dakota student attending the college to establish, or to assist in establishing, a new business operating within North Dakota that will employ North Dakota citizens.
Any funds provided to tribally controlled community colleges must be used to supplement, not supplant, any existing program or funding source of the college. (NDCC 54-60.2-1 and 54-60.2-02)