IDRS Acorn Project

09/04/2026

Tolani Lake Enterprises and the IDRS Acorn Project are offering a mini-grant program for Native agricultural producers and foragers in Nevada. Last week we hosted a webinar and earlier this week released the application for the grant. In case you missed either, links are below.

View the informational webinar: https://ntv.bz/ag_grant_info_session_replay

Applications are due at 4 pm Pacific on September 18, 2026. To access the application, please visit: https://questionpro.com/t/AMjU6Z9pDy

09/03/2026

GRANT ALERT

Looking for funding to help start, launch, or grow your business?

The Business Freedom Grant is offering a **$1,000 cash grant** to support entrepreneurs and small business owners.

• $1,000 grant
• $0 application fee
• New entrepreneurs and existing small businesses can apply
• Open across industries
• November 15, 2026 deadline

Funding can help with business expenses such as marketing, equipment, technology, website development, professional services, and other costs associated with building your business.

Deadline: November 15, 2026

Apply and learn more:
businessfreedomgrant.com

As always, review the full eligibility requirements and application details before applying.

09/02/2026

Wellness Wednesday

Before the emails, messages, meetings, and to-do lists start pulling at your attention, give yourself a few minutes first.

Drink some water. Stretch. Step outside. Sit quietly. Set an intention for your day.

It does not have to be a complicated morning routine. Even 10 intentional minutes can help you start your day feeling more focused and ready for what is ahead.

When you are building a business, how you start your day matters too.

Small routines. Stronger you. Stronger business.

09/02/2026

Business Tip Tuesday

Trying to market your business to everyone can make your message less effective.

Instead, get clear about who you are trying to reach. What do they need? What problem are they trying to solve? How does your product or service help?

When you understand your customer, you can create stronger content, communicate your value more clearly, and spend your marketing time and money more intentionally.

You do not need everyone to be your customer. You need the right people to understand why your business is right for them.

Who is your ideal customer?

08/31/2026

Motivational Monday 🌱

Big things often start with small beginnings.

Growth takes time. It takes strong roots, patience, support, and the willingness to keep moving forward even when you cannot see the results yet.

Whether you are building a business, working toward a goal, or simply trying to take the next step, remember that progress does not have to happen overnight.

Keep learning. Keep growing. Keep believing in what you are building.

Your small steps today can become something much bigger tomorrow.

08/28/2026

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT | Kelsey Powell, PARTNER BioResearch

This month, IDRS Acorn Project is proud to spotlight Kelsey Powell, Founder and CEO of PARTNER BioResearch, a Native American-owned biotechnology company working to increase Indigenous participation in clinical research and expand access to healthcare innovation for Tribal Nations and underserved communities.

Kelsey is a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation with Cherokee heritage. With 15 years of experience across healthcare and clinical research, she has seen firsthand the disparities affecting rural, Tribal, and underserved communities.

That experience helped inspire PARTNER BioResearch, which works with Tribal Nations to build research infrastructure, develop workforce training programs, increase access to clinical trials, and create sustainable pathways for Indigenous communities to participate in healthcare innovation on their own terms.

Kelsey is also a speaker and advocate at the intersection of biotechnology, artificial intelligence, clinical research, and Indigenous advancement.

Her mission says it best: create opportunities, build trust, open doors, and leave the path wider for those who come next.

We’re proud to highlight Native entrepreneurs and leaders who are creating change, opening doors, and increasing Indigenous representation in industries where our voices have historically been underrepresented.

Connect with Kelsey & PARTNER BioResearch:

LinkedIn: PARTNER BioResearch
Kelsey Powell on LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/in/kelsey-powell-tribalaffairs
Facebook: PARTNER BioResearch

08/27/2026

GRANT OPPORTUNITY FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS

Deadline Approaching!

Looking for funding to help grow your business? The Secretsos™ Small Business Grant is currently accepting applications for its Q3 2026 award.

One small business owner will receive $2,500 to put toward their business and support their continued growth.

Grant Amount: $2,500
Deadline: September 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM CT
Application Fee: $15
Open to:Small business owners across the United States and U.S. territories who are 21 or older and operate an active, registered business.

The application gives business owners an opportunity to share their entrepreneurial story, explain their plans for growth, and describe how they would use the grant funding.

Apply and learn more:
https://secretsos.com/grants/

Before applying, review the complete eligibility requirements and grant terms directly on the website.

Know a small business owner who could use $2,500? Share this opportunity with them!

Follow IDRS Acorn Project for more small business grants, resources, trainings, and opportunities.

08/26/2026

This looks like it will be very helpful!

08/26/2026

If you sell products online, through social media, or at in-person events, a strong product description can make a big difference in how customers understand the value of what you offer.

Join us for Writing Product Descriptions That Sell, a free webinar designed for artists, makers, small business owners, and entrepreneurs who want to create clearer, stronger, and more customer-friendly product descriptions.

Whether you sell through Etsy, Shopify, your own website, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, online marketplaces, or social media shops, the skills covered in this training can help strengthen your listings and make it easier for customers to make confident purchasing decisions.

Participants will learn how to:

• Write descriptions that communicate a product's value
• Create stronger ecommerce and social media listings
• Use storytelling to explain what makes a product special
• Include the details customers need before purchasing
• Incorporate keywords to improve product discovery
• Build customer interest and trust through better descriptions
• Use AI as a simple tool to strengthen product descriptions

Writing Product Descriptions That Sell
Thursday, September 10, 2026
12 PM PST | 1 PM MST | 2 PM CST | 3 PM EST
Presented virtually via Zoom
Free to attend

Register at: ntv.bz/sell

This webinar is paid for in part by USDA Rural Development and the California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development.

Do you sell products online, through social media, or at in-person events and want to make your products easier for customers to understand? This free webinar will help artists, makers, small business owners, and entrepreneurs learn how to write stronger product descriptions that help customers take...

08/26/2026

WELLNESS WEDNESDAY

Rest is part of the work.

When you’re building a business, it can feel like there is always something else that needs your attention. Another email. Another customer. Another deadline. Another idea.

But constantly running on empty doesn’t make you more productive.

Give yourself permission to slow down, reset, and take care of yourself.

A rested mind makes clearer decisions.
A healthy body gives you energy to keep going.
And taking a break today can help prevent burnout tomorrow.

Your business needs you, but you need you too.

What is one thing you can do for yourself this week?