- Details
- By Brian Edwards
- Native Contracting
The Rappahannock Tribe’s economic development arm has formed an SBA Tribal 8(a) technology joint venture with Netmaker Communications, expanding the tribe’s push into the federal contracting market.
Wihōkan Technologies LLC, headquartered in Indian Neck, Va., will pursue government and commercial work in telecommunications modernization, systems engineering, cybersecurity, public safety communications and technology consulting.
The venture pairs Rappahannock Enterprises LLC, the tribe’s SBA 8(a)-certified economic development company, with Netmaker, a veteran-owned small business with an established federal contracting business.
Wihōkan identifies itself as an SBA Tribal 8(a) joint venture and says its governance model meets SBA joint venture requirements for ownership, control and performance of work. The company lists Rappahannock Enterprises as its tribal partner.
HigherGov data shows Netmaker recorded approximately $7.9 million in federal prime and subcontract awards over the past five years, including about $3 million in 2025. Roughly $7.6 million of the five-year total came through subcontracts.
Rappahannock Enterprises received its SBA 8(a) certification in August 2024. The certification runs through August 2033. The company is also registered as an Indian Economic Enterprise and Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise.
“The name Wihōkan speaks directly to what we want this company to represent — to protect, to guard, and to keep safe,” Rappahannock Chief Anne Richardson said in announcing the venture.
The companies did not disclose their respective equity stakes in Wihōkan.
