Revival of NMC small business dev’t programs possible

Programs vital to the development of small business entities may be revived by the Northern Marianas College once its accreditation is reaffirmed by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Board of Regents chair Charles Cepeda noted yesterday the important role small business development programs will play once federalization takes effect. The business community believes federalization threatens to eliminate the islands’ nonresident workforce.

Through recommendations from the NMC management, the board last year suspended “some” programs under the Small Business Development Center, which was established in 1993 to administer and expand on the services that had been offered by the NMC Business Incubator since 1989.

“We may look at this option once we completely deal with our accreditation,” he said.

However, the chairman said the management will take care of the full assessment before the final recommendation is presented to the board.

“All is up to the NMC president and the management…because we’re relying on their assessments and recommendations,” he said.

Cepeda expressed his optimism on the positive decision of the accrediting body for NMC based on the indications shared by the president during her meeting with the commissioners.

Cepeda disclosed that the suspension of the programs was a result of “not enough participation” from potential participants and its supposed partners, coupled with the lack of funding for support.

“The interest was not high for the program,” he said, adding that NMC opted to concentrate on complying with the accreditation issues.

However, Cepeda said, NMC and the board remain supportive of any and other institutions that cater to the same objective of helping businessmen build local capacities.

“We will consult with the NMC president if there’s an immediate need to re-offer these programs,” the chairman added.

According to NMC website, due to substantial budget cuts since 2006, “the program has had to suspend most of its programs” and merge with the Business Department in Building V.

As a result of leaving Building T in 2006 so the School of Education could move in, the Business Incubator program was discontinued. The SBDC also had to suspend the Women-In-Business and Youth Entrepreneurship programs as the funding for the three staff business consultants and office manager positions were suspended. Federal grants for the programs also dried up.

The SBDC evolved in 1993 to provide comprehensive services to local small business owners and entrepreneurs that operate businesses outside of the Business Incubator facility. The SBDC was also developed to help combat the alarming increase in the number of small, foreign-owned firms in the CNMI by providing technical assistance to local business people that face a competitive disadvantage due to their lack of basic business skills.

Upon its opening in 1993, the SBDC launched the Client Counseling and Workshop and Seminar programs. In 2001, the SBDC additionally created the Women-In-Business program, followed by the Youth Entrepreneurship program in 2004. At its prime, the SBDC had a director/business consultant, three staff business consultants with their MBAs, and an office manager.