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SBA, CDA sign pact on SBDC transfer
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Posted on Mar 22 2000
The U.S. Small Business Administration has signed an agreement with the Commonwealth Development Authority to pave the way for the complete transfer of the CNMI’s Small Business Development Center to the agency’s Development Corporation Division.
Work is now underway to for the recruitment of business experts who will manage the CDA-administered SBDC which will be manned by a maximum of three staff including the program director.
The Northern Marianas subcenter is also expected to have a small development counselor who will provide professional expertise to CNMI entrepreneurs.
The CDA-administered SBDC is a subcenter of the Pacific Islands network which is funded and sanctioned by the U.S. SBA to serve the Western Pacific Region.
The CNMI SBDC program is part of the SBA’s SBDC Program consisting of 58 nationally-recognized networks with over 1,400 affiliated subcenters and satellite offices.
The development authority is planning to coordinate its efforts with the Northern Marianas College’s own small business center in order to avoid duplication of programs like workshop and seminar themes.
The Senate is firm on its plan to appropriate funds to a Small Business Development Center under the Northern Marianas College following the transfer of the federally financed program to the Development Authority.
The Senate wants to retain SBDC under the administration of NMC where it has been since the federally funded program was introduced in the Northern Marianas.
However, the U.S. Small Business Development Administration based in Guam has decided to uproot the center from the college to CDA.
NMC remains unfazed by the transfer and is likely to come up with its own small business development center, which received strong support from legislators who vowed to find ways to fund the program.
The Development Authority intends to hold business workshops and seminars in partnership with the Hotel Association, the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, the Saipan Garment Manufacturers Association and the Northern Marianas College.
