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BOG donates $2.5K in ETC to NMTI
Bank of Guam officials, led by vice president and CNMI regional manager Marcie Tomokane, turn over a symbolic check for $2,500 in Educational Tax Credits to Northern Marianas Trades Institute, led by Victorino Cepeda, NMTI director of External Relations. (Contributed Photo)
The Northern Marianas Trades Institute last March 31 received a donation of Educational Tax Credit from Bank of Guam in the amount of $2,500.
The contribution by Micronesia’s largest lending institution is testament to its commitment to the economic well being of our islands, according to NMTI CEO Agnes McPhetres.
McPhetres’ comment relates to the current contract worker phase-out situation facing the CNMI. As CW permits become increasingly difficult to obtain, CNMI businesses have been turning to NMTI to respond to their job skill needs, thus the increased demand for additional classrooms.
The trade school received the exciting news of such a donation from Marcie Tomokane, BOG vice president and CNMI regional manager earlier last week.
“As Bank of Guam is a stakeholder, it is in our vested interest in seeing our people succeed. As NMTI trains our future chefs, mechanics, electricians, masons, etc., we must look at their efforts as a move toward job sustainability. Our organization applauds their efforts and this is a gesture of our commitment to the people of the CNMI,” said Tomokane.
NMTI is currently expanding its classrooms to accommodate for the growing interest in the community for such trades as automotive, culinary arts, construction, and hotel and restaurant occupations.
The Lower Base facility is undergoing major renovations since Super Typhoon Soudelour. Regardless of not receiving aid for damage related to the recent storm, NMTI’s renovations have been somewhat a remarkable turnaround considering it lost almost all of its classrooms, according to Victorino Cepeda, NMTI director of External Relations.
“The funding received from the Bank of Guam will be used for the erection of three much needed additional classrooms. As our enrollment figures continue to climb, so has the demand from businesses, thus the need for a response on our part. We are extremely thankful that there are stakeholders out there like the Bank of Guam that believe in the service we provide our Commonwealth and hope to grow as this community grows.”
