About this programme
The Alaska SSBCI Tribal Consortium is the nation's largest Tribal consortium under the federal State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), a national program that helps small businesses access funding to grow, create jobs, and strengthen local economies (originally launched in 2010, expanded through the American Rescue Plan Act in 2021).
It is led by the Alaska Small Business Development Center (Alaska SBDC), part of the University of Alaska Anchorage, which is the only organization in the country running both a state and a Tribal SSBCI program. The Tribal Consortium partners with 125 Alaska Tribes and, building on the success of the $59 million State SSBCI program, will deploy $83.1 million to spur investment, job creation, and economic growth.
Like the state program, the Tribal Consortium does not lend directly. It distributes SSBCI support to banks, credit unions, and investment funds, which in turn provide loans and investments to eligible small businesses. While the consortium supports Tribal-owned businesses, eligibility extends beyond Tribal members.
How it works
The $83.1 million is split across three programs: the Loan Guarantee Program ($49.9 million), the Loan Participation Program ($10.3 million), and the Venture Capital Program ($22.9 million).
Under the Loan Guarantee Program, the Tribal SSBCI guarantee amount can go up to 80% of the total loan for borrowers affiliated with the 125-tribe consortium, notably higher than the State program's typical 50%. Lenders sign a Master Guarantee Agreement plus a loan-specific addendum verifying eligibility; once approved, the guarantee funds are placed into a Certificate of Deposit (CD) with the lender.
Program staff do not re-underwrite the loan; they review the lender's own lending assessment to confirm the guarantee request is reasonable and meets program requirements. The lender handles servicing, collections, and liquidation, and reports delinquencies to Alaska SBDC monthly and annually. If the loan is repaid, the guarantee CD is released back to the program for redeployment; in default, the borrower's assets are liquidated first before the CD covers the guaranteed share of the lender's loss.
Who can apply
The business must have fewer than 750 employees and be operating in the State of Alaska. The loan or investment round must be $20 million or less, and applicants cannot be registered sex offenders.
Program funds cannot be used for cannabis-related businesses, passive real estate investments, gaming, purchasing an owner's share or reimbursing owner contributions, paying off existing loans (with limited exceptions), or in connection with other federal funding programs such as SBA, USDA, EDA, or BIA.
While the consortium's focus is Tribal-affiliated borrowers, the official page notes eligibility extends beyond Tribal members, so non-Tribal small businesses in Alaska can also apply through a participating lender.
How to apply
- Apply through a participating lender, not directly through Alaska SBDC. Contact a lender from the SSBCI State & Tribal Participating Lender List to inquire about financing options.
- Lenders who want to participate should contact the Tribal SSBCI team at ssbci.tribal@aksbdc.org; Alaska SSBCI staff will connect with them directly about next steps.
- For the Loan Guarantee Program specifically, the lender executes a Master Guarantee Agreement and submits the completed Tribal SSBCI application forms to the Tribal SSBCI team.
Frequently asked
Do I need to be a Tribal member to use this program?
The consortium supports Tribal-owned businesses, but the official page states eligibility extends beyond Tribal members, so non-Tribal small businesses affiliated with the consortium's service area can also be considered.
How is this different from the State SSBCI program?
The Tribal Consortium partners with 125 Alaska Tribes and deploys a larger pool ($83.1 million vs. $59 million for the State program), and its loan guarantee can reach up to 80% of a loan for consortium-affiliated borrowers, compared with a typical 50% under the State program.
Do I apply to Alaska SBDC directly?
No. You contact a participating lender to inquire about financing; the Tribal SSBCI support goes to the lender, not directly to the business.
What uses of funds are excluded?
Cannabis-related businesses, passive real estate investments, and gaming are excluded, along with buying out an owner's share, reimbursing owner contributions, paying off most existing loans, or combining these funds with other federal programs like SBA, USDA, EDA, or BIA.
More funding in Alaska
Alaska State SSBCI Program
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Reviewed 2026-09-25. Programmes change, so check eligibility, amounts and deadlines on the official page before you apply. CapEasy is a private firm and is not part of any government body.