{"id":413672,"date":"2024-09-03T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-03T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=413672"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"BOH-awards-25K-to-5-small-business-owners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/BOH-awards-25K-to-5-small-business-owners\/","title":{"rendered":"BOH awards $25K to 5 small business owners"},"content":{"rendered":"

Five small business owners were each awarded a $5,000 grant from Bank of Hawaii\u2019s Small Business Revitalization and Development Grant (I Kinometi Para I Kumunidat I Isla- ta Grant) last Friday afternoon at the Board of Regents Conference Room of the Northern Marianas College.<\/p>\n

The five recipients of $5,000 grant each were Alexandra Villagomez of Isla Consultancy Services, LLC, Rens Belo of Mechille Corp., Vince Tudela of Peska CNMI dba Peska Tackle, Jake Hocog of TilSteel, LLC dba Divine\u2019s Essentials, and Edgar Duenas Niric of Niric, LLC dba Eastside Cuts.<\/p>\n

The grant awarding ceremony was attended by Bank of Hawaii\u00a0senior vice president and senior market manager Michael Sakazaki, Bank of Hawaii CNMI assistant branch manager Joanne Aldan, NMC vice president of Administration and Advancement Frankie M. Eliptico, CNMI SBDC Network director Nadine Deleon Guerrero, and Tupu Cane Juice general manager Cameron Atalig.<\/p>\n

Roman Tudela, SBDC Marketing manager who also served as the ceremony\u2019s emcee, explained that the event is a collaboration between Bank of Hawaii and the CNMI Small Business Development Center Network at Northern Marianas College, focusing on supporting local entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis partnership for the past three years has been focused on providing our local entrepreneurs with the support that they need to grow, thrive, and innovate,\u201d said Tudela.<\/p>\n

Sakazaki highlighted the unique aspects of the 12-year partnership, emphasizing the bank\u2019s commitment to the community and financial literacy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to thank the CNMI Small Business Development Center for the continued partnership and shared core values of commitment to our Saipan community. We, Bank of Hawaii, are invested in our West Pacific Market and through these grants, our goal is to continue to revitalize the economy and promote financial literacy to all!” said Sakazaki.<\/p>\n

Deleon Guerrero thanked her SBDC team for their efforts in helping clients access capital and process loans. She emphasized the importance of small businesses in the community and their role in fostering the private sector. Guerrero mentioned the challenges small businesses face, particularly in accessing capital, and expressed gratitude to Bank of Hawaii for their program.<\/p>\n

Eliptico thanked Bank of Hawaii for supporting not just the small businesses in the CNMI but also NMC.<\/p>\n

\u201cBank of Hawaii has been very instrumental for us to rebuild here at the Northern Marianas College. In addition to the funds that you\u2019re providing for small businesses, we have directly received from the Bank of Hawaii Foundation, direct funds that help us to build. I\u2019m not sure if it\u2019s $10,000 or $15,000 but it\u2019s a grant to build a simulation center in building A. We had just purchased all the computers and other equipment and we\u2019ve remodeled the classrooms where students can simulate a business environment in various types of business industries.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Atalig, who is one of the 2023 grant recipients, shared how the grant helped with Tupu Cane\u2019s branding and farming infrastructure.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of times when something new and innovative comes out, it\u2019s hard to keep the hype going,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Villagomez of Isla Consultancy Services, LLC shared that she was informed about a grant opportunity from BOH through an email from SBDC a month ago. She\u2019s been running her consultancy business since 2022 and plans to use the grant to purchase resources like TVs, laptops, textbooks, and certificates. She currently lacks a physical office but with the grant, she intends to rent a space to accommodate at least eight people.<\/p>\n

Mechille Corp., represented by Rens Belo, plans to use the $5,000 for the exploration of a new wastewater purification device.<\/p>\n

Eastside Barbershop in Kagman, owned by Niric, plans to use the funds for advertising and workforce expansion to increase awareness of the barbershop and hire and train additional staff to better serve the community.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

From left, Vince Tudela of Peska CNMI dba Peska Tackle, Rens Belo of Mechille Corp., Alexandra Villagomez of Isla Consultancy Services, Jake Hocog of Tilsteel, LLC dba Divine\u2019s Essentials, and Edgar Duenas Niric of Eastside Barbershop pose with, standing from left, Northern Marianas College vice president of Administration and Advancement Frankie Eliptico, SBDC Network director Nadine DeLeon Guerrero, CNMI Bank of Hawaii assistant branch manager Joanne Aldan, BOH senior vice president Michael Sakazaki, and SBDC\u2019s Mercyllin Palec.<\/p>\n

-RACQUEL FLOYD
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

Bank of Hawaii senior vice president Michael Sakazaki highlights the unique aspects of the 12-year partnership, emphasizing the bank\u2019s commitment to the community and financial literacy.<\/p>\n

-RACQUEL FLOYD
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

SBDC Network director Nadine DeLeon Guerrero delivers her inspirational remarks.<\/p>\n

-RACQUEL FLOYD
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

Cameron Atlalig, one of the 2023 BOH grant recipients, shares how the grant helped his Tupu Cane business\u2019 branding and farming infrastructure.<\/p>\n

-RACQUEL FLOYD
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

SBDC Marketing manager Roman Tudela served as the ceremony\u2019s emcee last Friday at the NMC Board of Regents Conference Room.<\/p>\n

-RACQUEL FLOYD
<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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