Each eligible applicant desiring a grant under the IBIP must submit to the Secretary an application as described in the solicitation posted on www.grants.gov.

An application for a grant under the IBIP must include:

(a) A certification that the applicant:

(1) Is an eligible applicant;

(2) Has or will designate an executive director or program manager to manage the business incubator; and

(3) Agrees to:

(i) A site evaluation by the Secretary as part of the final selection process;

(ii) An annual programmatic and financial examination for the duration of the grant; and

(iii) To the maximum extent practicable, to remedy any problems identified pursuant to the site evaluation and examination;

(b) A description of the one or more reservation communities to be served by the business incubator;

(c) A three-year plan that describes:

(1) The number of Native businesses and Native entrepreneurs to be participating in the business incubator;

(2) Whether the business incubator will focus on a particular type of business or industry;

(3) A detailed breakdown of the services to be offered to Native businesses and Native entrepreneurs participating in the business incubator; and

(4) A detailed breakdown of the services, if any, to be offered to Native businesses and Native entrepreneurs not participating in the business incubator;

(d) Information demonstrating the effectiveness and experience of the eligible applicant in:

(1) Conducting financial, management, and marketing assistance programs designed to educate or improve the business skills of current or prospective businesses;

(2) Working in and providing services to Native American communities;

(3) Providing assistance to entities conducting business in reservation communities;

(4) Providing technical assistance under Federal business and entrepreneurial development programs for which Native businesses and Native entrepreneurs are eligible; and

(5) Managing finances and staff effectively;

(e) A description of the applicant's non-Federal contributions, in an amount equal to not less than 25 percent of the grant amount requested; and

(f) A site description of the location at which the eligible applicant will provide physical workspace, including a description of the technologies, equipment, and other resources that will be available to Native businesses and Native entrepreneurs participating in the business incubator, if the applicant is in possession of the site, or a written site proposal containing the information in § 1187.12, if the applicant is not yet in possession of the site.

If the applicant is not yet in possession of the site, the applicant must submit a written site proposal with their application that contains:

(a) Sufficient detail for the Secretary to ensure, in the absence of a site visit or video submission, that the proposed site will permit the eligible applicant to meet the requirements of the IBIP; and

(b) A timeline describing when the eligible applicant will be:

(1) In possession of the proposed site; and

(2) Operating the business incubator at the proposed site.

Two or more eligible entities may submit a joint application for a project that combines the resources and expertise of those entities at a physical location dedicated to assisting Native businesses and Native entrepreneurs under the IBIP.

A joint application must:

(a) Contain a certification that each participant of the joint project is an eligible entity under § 1187.3;

(b) Demonstrate that together the participants meet the requirements of § 1187.13; and

(c) Identify which of the entities submitting the joint application will be the lead contact for the purposes of grant management.