Walung Ecolodge

By: Skiller Jackson

Director

Kosrae SBDC

 

The Walung hamlet is part of the Tafunsak Municipality on the island of Kosrae in the Federated States of Micronesia. This hamlet was once accessible only by boat. Today, there are a number of ways to get to Walung. Due to the rugged and steep road to Walung, one must drive a four-wheeler or an off-road vehicle which could take at least an hour or more from the Kosrae International Airport to the Walung hamlet. It is only a 5-10 minute boat ride on a 40 hp outboard motor from the Okat Marina and about 45 minutes more or less to paddle on an outrigger canoe to Walung.

 

The Walung hamlet has no electricity, thus, most of the homes now have solar panels installed where one could watch the sunset while the coffee pot is heating up. A few years back, visitors must be watchful so as to return to the main village while the tide is still high. Even if you still want to enjoy the peacefulness, the isolation from noise pollution, the endless strips of white sandy beaches, and the sweet coconut juice, you need to get back to your hotel at the main village on the same tide because there was no lodging available in Walung.

The Walung Ecolodge is a new start-up business which was started by Mr. Timothy H. Jackson. Through the years, Mr. Jackson often times offered his house as a retreat to visitors who wish to spend the night in Walung. Even during the day a visitor to Walung needs to rest but could not find a place to rest. Today, it is not an issue anymore. If you want to spend a day or two or even a week in Walung, just enjoying the scenery or on a honeymoon trip, you are most welcome to rest at the Walung Ecolodge.

 Mr. Jackson came to the Kosrae SBDC for business assistance in starting a lodging business in Walung some years back. After a series of business planning and development counseling sessions, Mr. Jackson completed a business proposal for a lodging business and submitted the plan to FSM Development Bank for review. It was late last year that Mr. Jackson was informed by FSM Development Bank of the approval of his loan request and assisted in creating six new full time positions.

Mr. Jackson was born and raised in the Tafunsak Municipality and moved to Walung after he came back from college. Mr. Jackson is currently living and working in Walung as the School Principal of the Walung Elementary School. He is married to Mrs Amera Benjamin with 2 sons and 1 daughter.

For more information on how the Kosrae SBDC can assist you in starting or expanding your business, please contact Skiller Jackson at 691-370-2751 or e-mail skiller@pacificsbdc.com

Neni & Me Owners Turn Friendship Into Partnership

By: Mae Acain

Student Intern

University of Guam

 



L-R : Kallen Perez, Laura Cepeda (Owner), Father Edivaldo da Silva, Flora-Rose Weakley (Owner)

Flora-Rose Weakley and Laura Cepeda, proud owners of Neni & Me, attended college in Hawaii together where they built a friendship that eventually led them to a business partnership. As college students, they shared the same business courses and participated in school organizations and business events that sparked their interest in entrepreneurship. Weakley and Cepeda both managed to gain knowledge about business through their education. Weakley has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a Masters Degree in Secondary Education and Cepeda has a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and a Professional Masters in Business Administration. They both also have experience in the retail industry. Weakley has worked in retail stores such as Gap Kids Inc., Fantastic Shots, and other small retail outlets. Cepeda worked in the popular children’s store Gymboree and also amongst other specialty shops in the busiest and most prominent shopping center in Hawaii. Attending school and residing in Hawaii helped them find inspiration and gain knowledge from well-known mainland companies and business owners. When they returned to Guam, they decided to open up a business of their own. Cepeda and Weakley stated, “We wanted to have a business that would serve a need in the community, one that would foster growth and provide something for mothers like us on island.”

Just like any other business, starting Neni & Me had its obstacles. For the owners, their biggest challenge was finding time to focus on the business. Weakley and Cepeda stated, “We both had our hands full being mothers, working full-time, operating the business, and working to fit our customers’ personal schedules. However, everything came full circle and God had provided us with the means to juggle our demands.” With the help of the Small Business Development Center, they managed to make their vision come to life. Guam SBDC helped them understand necessary avenues to take and precautions when opening a business on Guam. Neni & Me was funded through personal investments. They started the business as an online-based company for the convenience it provided for mothers and it was both simple and cost-saving. Speaking from their personal experiences, they gave those who want to venture into business simple, yet encouraging advice: “Utilize your resources and do your research first before diving in. Also, remember the mission of your business or your passion that drove it. This is important because you will get caught up in the operations of the business that you may forget why you started. Never lose focus and stay motivated even when obstacles present themselves.”

As the business flourished, Weakley and Cepeda see their biggest triumph to be the joy they feel when mothers thank them for the help and service their business has brought. They went on to say, “The most rewarding thing about our business is serving our mommies. It truly is a joy.” Overtime, they hope to reach more mothers who have not heard about their business and what it has to offer. They want to continue to help educate mothers and provide them with resources as they go through a precious time in their lives.  They encourage mothers to continue to look out for what they have to offer in the future and they guarantee to keep things interesting.

To view Neni & Me’s product line, visit their website at www.neniandme.com or contact them at 671-777-1330 or 671-727-0070 or e-mail info@neniandme.com.

Island Mart Opens Doors for Business

By: Ketsen Haregaichig

Director

Chuuk SBDC

 

Mr. and Mrs. Hersin Ruben from the Island of Fefan in the Southern Namoneas Region opened the doors of Island Mart. Island Mart is comprised of several businesses including the wholesaler/retailer of general merchandise, a gas station, an ice block maker, and sea transportation.

The store first started in a small room in a rented house in Sefin, Weno and four years later was relocated across the airport. After five years of operation, Mr. Ruben purchased a piece of property within the downtown area and established another wooden store. Years later, Mr. Ruben constructed a new two story building and was completed in September of last year.

 

The Chuuk Small Business Development Center (SBDC) was there to assist with free consultation and offer advice on how to prepare their business plan especially in the financial projection area to request financing from the bank. Because of SBDC’s help and the Hersin’s willingness and determination to complete their business plan, they were able to secure a line of credit from the FSM Development Bank. This line of credit helped them purchase additional inventory before the grand opening of the new two-story Island Mart.

On September 30, 2013 a small crowd gathered for the grand opening and blessing ceremony of the store which stands in the heart of downtown area, Weno. The new two story mart is conveniently located right in the corner of the main road and the road to the Transco Dock which caters to businesses and commuters who accept exceptional services and good quality, inexpensive items.  

On our quick walk through the beautifully redecorated store, we found the prices to be more competitive on some of the items we had the opportunity to see. There was a large selection of meat cuts, frozen foods, and ice cream presented in the well stocked refrigerators and freezers. On the second floor, we found clothing for both men and women and the offices for the manager and the owners. Outside the owner’s office, there was another space for customers to sit and see the view of the beautiful islands in the lagoon.

For more information on how the Chuuk SBDC can help you, please contact Ketsen Haregaichig at 691-330-5846 or e-mail ketsen@pacificsbdc.com.

An Interview with Rebecca Segal: The Albert's Expand B Cave Store

By: Skiller Jackson

Director
Kosrae SBDC

 

Please tell us about your family.

My name is Rebecaa Segal Albert and I am married to Segal Alik Albert. We have 9 children, 4 daughters and 5 sons. I am currently employed as an elementary school teacher at Tafunsak Elementary School. My husband is currently unemployed and is taking care of our small retail business.

Why did you decide to start your own business?

A few years back, my in-laws were operating a mini store and me and my husband assisted them in managing the business. There was a mini store and they added a produce market and later added a video rental. As the oldest of the family, my husband dedicated most of his time with his family and assisted them in running and managing the family business. We started managing the family business after my in-laws were starting to lose interest due to illness.

What experience do you have in this type of business?

My husband and I started running and managing the business on our own and we feel that we needed to upgrade and expand the business.

How did the Kosrae Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and other resources help you?

We were still thinking about this expansion business when I learned about the services of the Kosrae SBDC. I visited the SBDC one day for assistance and then I was given a business plan questionnaire to fill out with my husband. Somehow, the SBDC started to visit the schools to do business plan development training. I attended the one day training and there I was able to fill out the business plan questionnaire. I visited the SBDC again to review, revise, and comment on my draft plan. Finally, we completed a full proposal and submitted to the Pacific Islands Development Bank for review. A few weeks later, I was notified by the PIDB that my loan proposal was approved awaiting processing.

What was the start-up process like? How did you fund your business?

There was an existing structure that needed upgrading and we were then selling only a few grocery items and also selling local produce. We were able to upgrade the existing building and expand the store into selling more grocery items, locally baked goods, and local produce. Most of the funding was from the PIDB and we use our existing building and few goods on the shelves as contributions to the business.

What were some of the biggest challenges/experiences you experienced in the start-up process?

The biggest challenge that we faced with was the planning and also the write up of the business proposal. Without the assistance from the Kosrae SBDC, we could not have come up with a fundable proposal.

What is your most memorable triumph in your start-up process?

The most memorable triumph is when we were informed that our loan request was approved. We could not wait to start the expansion plans we had for the business.

What are your short-term and long-term goals for your business?

Our short-term goal is to expand the business into selling more dry foods and hopefully in the long run, we are able to increase the kinds of goods sold at our business into selling other products such as frozen goods and to able to import rather than buying from local suppliers.

What advice would you give other who want to start a business at this time?

If you have a business idea in mind, don’t hesitate to start. When in doubt, visit the Kosrae SBDC.

B Cave Store is located in Wiya, Tafunsak and is open from 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. To contact Rebecca and Segal Albert, call them at (691)370-2639 or e-mail rebalbe@yahoo.com

For more information on how the Kosrae SBDC can assist you starting or expanding your business, contact Skiller Jackson at (691) 370-2751 or e-mail skiller@pacificsbdc.com.

Guam Enterprise Initiative: One Village, One Product

By Fred R. Schumann, Ph.D.

 



Over the last five decades Guam's tourism industry has served as an engine for its economic growth.  However, not all segments of the community of Guam actively engage in commercial activities with tourists and therefore receive little direct benefits from the tourism industry. Because of the many large corporations involved in the tour agent-dominated industry, economic benefits for residents are further reduced due to a high level of leakage of the tourists' spending on Guam.  The direct income for an area is the amount of tourist expenditure that remains locally after taxes, profits, and wages are paid outside the area and after imports are purchased; these subtracted amounts are called leakage.  Recent tourism studies show that each visitor to Guam spends $1,100 on-island, but as much as 54% ends up leaving Guam.  Leakage estimates in other destinations like the Caribbean islands are as high as 80%.  One way to address the issue of leakage is for residents to work together as a community and better market locally produced tourism products that meet the needs of visitors. 



Dr. Anita Borja Enriquez with a shopkeeper from Yufuin, Oita. Customers can sample local jams and observe the production of goods--all part of the shopping experience.

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A team from the University of Guam is in the process of gathering data to develop an inventory of agricultural clusters by village and will be using this information to encourage the creation of value-added products by village residents.  The team, comprised of members from the School of Business and Public Administration, then plans to introduce the One-Village-One-Product (OVOP) strategy through the linking of village agriculture and heritage tourism. This strategy is being implemented on Guam so that residents may benefit economically from the tourism industry by building up linkages with suppliers of goods and services for commercial activities involving signature products from each village.



OVOP was first introduced by Governor Hiramatsu in Oita, Japan.  Successfully implemented as a regional development program in 1979, the communities had to selectively produce goods with highly added value and one village should produce one product that was competitive and stable and use this particular product to gain sales revenue in the market.  In Oita, the average annual income doubled, with OVOP products now sold in Narita International Airport and Kansai International Airport, thus making revenues for villages involved in the OVOP movement.  Similarly, the promotion of residents’ engagement in value-added production and service will result in economic self-sufficiency at the village level.  This can lead to export potential of heritage-based food and agriculture products, and ultimately to shrink leakage and maximize the circulation of tourism revenue within the local economy.

The team plans to develop a map similar to that of Oita and further develop economic opportunities for residents by linking village agriculture and heritage tourism.  It involves pursuing a specialization strategy with each of Guam’s 19 villages identifying one or two products, goods or services that will eventually create a specific image to attract visitors and investments.  The purpose is to show that each village has some uniqueness in terms of its history, culture, agriculture, or natural beauty.

For more information, contact the Guam OVOP project team at 735-2525 or guamovop@gmail.com.

Fred R. Schumann, Ph.D. is a resident tourism expert with the UOG Pacific Center for Economic Initiatives, and Associate Professor of Global Resources Management at the School of Business and Public Administration, University of Guam.

USDA, Farm Service Agency – Youth Loan Program available in Guam and CNMI

FSA's Youth Loan program helps promotes entrepreneurship by giving participants practical experience in planning and carrying out agriculturally-related, income-producing projects.

Youth must be no younger than 10 no older than 20 when they apply. They must also have a project adviser to provide general oversight on project. Youth participants must be able to plan, manage, and carry out a project and have a parent or guardian agree to the applicant’s participation if they are a minor.

A wide variety of projects qualify as "agriculturally related" enterprises. Here are a few examples of how loan funds might be used:

• Buy farm produce from a local farmer to make jams or jellies to sell at the farmers market or during a local fair.

• Pay a local graphic arts designer to create an attractive label for the product.

• Buy the raw materials needed to weave "Made in Guam" baskets at the Chamorro Village.

• Buy and raise traditional Chinese herbs to package as teas or health supplements to sell to the local Chinese community.

• Purchase 3 baby pigs plus the feed and medicines needed to raise them for sale.

Other details include:

• The maximum loan to pay expenses is $5,000;

• The project must generate the income needed to repay the loan.

• Security requirements:
 Applicants must sign a promissory note and be responsible for repaying the loan.

 Loan collateral is normally the products produced for sale, but could include other property.

 Loan payments are based on the scheduled sale of the products.

•FSA uses fixed interest rates.
For more information, please contact:

Fred San Nicolas, Assistant Manager,

Farm Loan Programs

fred.sannicolas@pb.usda.gov
Doreen Rivera, Program Technician,

Farm Loan Programs
doreen.rivera@pb.usda.gov
Telephone: 671-300-8552

Facsimile: 855-356-9491
USDA is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer 



 



 

UN Resident Coordinator Meets YES!

By: Lisa Abraham
Director
Palau SBDC 

 Ms. Osnat Lubrani, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative was in Palau to present her professional credentials to his Excellency President Tommy Remengesau, Jr. Per the Fiji Times newspaper:

Bureau of Youth & Sports Director Melson Miko, UN Resident Coordinator Osnat Lubrani, Palau SBDC Executive Director Lisa Abraham and several YES Phase II participants pose for a photo after their meeting.

Ms. Lubrani holds a Bachelor of Arts in sociology, anthropology and history of Africa from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel. She has a Master of International Affairs degree from Columbia University and a Master of Fine Arts degree from New York University.

Previously, she was the UN development coordinator and UNDP resident representative for Kosovo, director of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in Brussels and regional program director in Slovakia. She was seconded to UNDP's office in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as deputy resident representative, and worked with UNIFEM in New York.

During her visit, Lubrani met with several Bureau of Youth and Sports Director, Melson Miko, as well as with several Youth Entrepreneur Solutions (YES) Program Phase II participants. Director Miko directly manages the Palau National Youth Council (PNYC) and is a partner with the Palau SBDC in overseeing the achievement of the YES Program Business Incubator.  

The Palau Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs (MCCA) work continuously to support Palauan youth and help pave the way to an exciting future of Palauan entrepreneurship. Though support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has been received (in the form of seed money) to start on the construction of the YES Program Business Incubator, the present deteriorated state of the facility will require additional support from the community.

The Youth Entrepreneur Solutions (YES) Action Plan launched Phase 2 of its program on March 15, 2013. Their theme for this year’s business plan training and competition was: “Building the Spirit of Entrepreneurship.” The YES Action Plan was first launched in April 2012 and is a joint initiative under the Small Business Development Center of Palau (SBDC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

If you would like more information about the Youth Entrepreneur Solution Business plan competition or you are interested in supporting the launching of the YES Program Business Incubator, please contact Lisa Abraham at 587-6004 or email at lees@pacificsbdc.com.