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CNMI SBDC announces recent hires
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Posted on May 13 2021
The CNMI Small Business Development Center has hired consultants in response to an influx of demand for SBDC’s services due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking at Tuesday’s Rotary Club of Saipan meeting at the Hyatt Regency Saipan Ballroom, CNMI SBDC director Nicole Babauta said the new consultants came aboard last week and will be available up to Sept. 30 this year. She said a $72,800 federal funding allotted by the Guam Small Business Development Center allowed Saipan, Tinian, and Rota’s SBDC offices to hire these new consultants.
One of those consultants is former Saipan Chamber of Commerce executive director Maxine Lazslo, who said the Guam SBDC funding “allow for businesses to meet more one-on-one with SBA to specifically talk about the [COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan], the [Paycheck Protection Program] if it becomes available again, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, as well as other resources that we hear about that are related to COVID that will help businesses in their recovery.”
All SBDCs are part of a program under the U.S. Small Business Administration. The CNMI SBDC is part of the SBDC Pacific Islands Network, which includes SBDCs on Guam, in Kosrae, Palau, Yap, Chuuk, and Pohnpei. Currently, the Saipan SBDC provides business advice services, conducts online small business training programs where prospective business owners can learn how to turn their ideas into a business, and helps refer businesses to relevant financial programs and loans.
Those interested in the CNMI SBDC’s services or current business owners who are in a tough spot financially due to the pandemic can visit their website at pacificsbdc.com.
