NMI among top recipients for STEP grant award

The CNMI Department of Commerce was recently notified that it was among the nation’s top recipients of grant funds awarded through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Export Trade Administration. Acting secretary Sixto K. Igisomar received notice on Sept. 28 that the CNMI was awarded the funds.

Initially, unsure if the CNMI was qualified to apply for the grant, the Commonwealth Development Authority, the CNMI Department of Commerce, and the Marianas Visitors Authority sought to gain clarity on the CNMI’s ability to compete for the funds and found that the CNMI was eligible to apply.

With just over a week to prepare a full grant application, the CNMI Department of Commerce and the Marianas Visitors Authority tapped the services of Integrated Professional Solutions, LLC to develop and write the full grant application. The firm was tasked with working with the CDA, Commerce, MVA, and the SBDC to put together an application that met the requirements of the grant program.

“The CNMI agencies are grateful for the work that was done by IPS and are impressed with the results, especially given the tight time frame in which the application was due. Although IPS led the charge, it was truly a team effort, with folks from MVA, CDA, Commerce, the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, the CNMI Small Business Development Center, Mr. Phillip Long-Mendiola, and Mr. Casey Jeszenka; all pitching in to get the program developed and submitted,” said Igisomar.

The CNMI was among the nation’s top recipients and was awarded $1,022,781, while Hawaii was awarded $487,519, and Guam received $135,097. The STEP grant, which is an acronym for the State Trade Export Program, will allow for CNMI small businesses to have various venues to promote their products in export market, firm of lines of services for export, develop CNMI small business acumen, and develop a “Made in the Marianas” brand for products that are exported abroad. The grant will provide tremendous support to the MVA for promotion and marketing efforts abroad as it is the CNMI’s largest export.

“Tourism remains our primary and largest export commodity and as such, we will be committing a large portion of the funding to ensure that the agency has the added resources they need to promote our destination,” said Gov. Benigno R. Fitial. “This funding is a big win for our jurisdiction and comes at a time of great need. We are grateful that the US Department of Commerce took interest in our project and has expressed their willingness to help our struggling economy.” (Office of the Governor)