2012 ANNUAL REPORT - American Samoa Small Business

2012 ANNUAL REPORT - American Samoa Small Business

Boots to Business: Veterans Achieve
Success in American Samoa
Small Business Development Center
2012 ANNUAL REPORT
Message from the President
American Samoa Community College (ASCC) and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) are great supporters of the U.S. Small Business
Administration’s (SBA) partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans
Dr. Seth Galea’i
President
American Samoa Community
College
Affairs (VA) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) effort to launch
entrepreneurial training programs for transitioning military service men and
women.
This year the Boots to Business and other Veterans Affairs programs have
made college courses with ASCC and training with the SBDC all the more
appealing to prior armed service members. Nationally, the Boots to Business Program was launched as a pilot initiative, but expanded efforts have
provided business courses and training to the thousands through local
community colleges and Small Business Development Centers.
The American Samoa Community College and the SBDC are committed to
assisting the SBA and VA in the development of current and future entrepreneurs. In our Territory, veterans who are now business men and
women are a welcome addition to the businesses sector.
Sincerely,
Dr. Seth Galeai
President
American Samoa Community College
American Samoa Community College is Accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Community
and Junior Colleges and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
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Message from the State
Director
During 2012 American Samoa experienced an increase in prior armed service members seeking better futures via entrepreneurship. The year saw
the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) partner with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Department of Defense to launch an
entrepreneurial training program to help transitioning service members become entrepreneurs and create jobs. One of the newest programs is called
Operation Boots to Business, which was created to assist Army, Navy, Marine, and Coast Guard veterans with entrepreneurship and business startups.
Dr. Herbert Thweatt
State Director
Originally launched to assist the U.S. Marine Corps, the SBA plans to ultimately provide entrepreneurship awareness and opt-in training to the
250,000 service members from all branches of the military. The American
Samoa Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the SBA recognize the contributions that veterans make by owning and running businesses that employ hundreds of people in our community and nation. According to the most recent U.S. Census Data, veteran-owned businesses
represent 9 percent of all U.S. companies. In America 2.45 million veteranowned businesses employ over 5.8 million individuals.
The SBDC congratulates these veteran business men and women of American Samoa, and invites all who haven’t yet done so to become better acquainted with the programs and services we offer.
Sincerely,
Dr. Herbert Thweatt
State Director
Small Business Development Center
The Small Business Development Center is Accredited by the
America’s Small Business Development Centers.
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American Samoa
Small Business Development Center
Success Story
AE Designz
Most people have only dreamed of owning their
own business, but few take that dream to the next
step and make it a reality. Ella Ae Gurr served in the
United States Air force before working with the local
Federal Air Aviation (FAA). After years of working,
Ella decided it was time to start her own business.
Together with her father, Pulu Ae Ae Jr., also a Marine Corps veteran, and her brothers Alamo and
Melvin, they came up with a business concept for
graphic design and signage.
Seeking the training and counseling to create a business, Ella contacted the American Samoa Small
Business Development Center. Since 2012, she has
received counseling in business planning and cash
flow projection. Through persistence and personal
investments, Ella opened her business.
AE Designz is a local graphic design and signage
firm that produces and installs external and internal
signs. They also create banners, freestanding signs,
menu boards, inlaid floor displays, wall graphics, gallery style photo enlargements, vehicle wraps and
smaller items such as buttons and badges.
Following initial success with the signage business,
Ae Designz was able to expand into the tattoo industry by opening a tattoo shop. To assist with the additional work, AE Designz has hired and retained five
employees. “The SBDC is a great business support
system and was there when I needed them,” said Ella.
“I encourage all businesses great and small to use
their services as often as they can to receive the caring advice and business backing structure they offer.”
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Success Story
Taputimu Aquaculture
Taputimu Aquaculture is a family-owned business
which has converted from conventional farming to
aquaponics, raising tilapia fish to produce organic
nutrients which are in turn used to grow plants. The
owner, Mr. Apela Afoa, is a military veteran who
saw a need for fresh, locally grown produce, particularly lettuce and tomatoes, to off-set costly imported
produce with a shorter shelf-life. Aside from a professional career as an aircraft mechanic, Afoa also
has a background in agriculture, aquaculture, fish
farming, and animal science.
Afoa applied for $25,000 in start-up funding from the Veterans Affairs Vocational Rehabilitation Program, which
was approved. With the help of his University of Hawaii
aquaculture contacts, he developed the aquaculture systems necessary to support his mission of being the main
supplier of fresh, locally grown lettuce and tomatoes. Market research confirmed the demand for such produce, and
Afoa’s company now provides fresh, organic tomatoes and
lettuce to the school lunch program, restaurants and grocery stores. The company’s long-term goal is to promote
sustainability and to provide a healthy food choice for the
island’s school lunch programs, hospitals, and restaurants.
“The SBDC has greatly helped me in developing my business plan and finding sources of start-up funding. They are
a valuable asset to the business community and I highly
recommend their services to future entrepreneurs and existing business owners.”
- Mr. Apela Afoa, Owner
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Success Story
Off Da Rock Tattoo
While serving as a reservist in the US Army, Joseph
Ioane started designing tattoos as a hobby and often
dreamed of starting his own tattoo business. Using
personal savings, Joseph got a business license, leased
a location for Off Da Rock Tattoo Studio and began
renovating the space in anticipation of its grand opening in 2010. Joseph contacted the American Samoa
Small Business Development Center for assistance in
marketing and market research, and the SBDC was
able to aid in creating television cable advertising and
in developing a referral marketing system. The Center
also reviewed Joseph’s business lease and offered advice on it.
With his business now in its fourth year of success,
Joseph is grateful for the assistance of the American
Samoa Small Business Development Center. Off Da
Rock Tattoos has created and retained four jobs since
2012 and has expanded to its new location.
“The SBDC assisted my business with advertising
and marketing tools. I appreciate all they do and look
forward to continued networking to further my business success in the tattoo industry.”
- Mr. Joseph Ioane, Owner
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Economic Impact
Clients Counseled: 185
New Clients Counseled: 128
Business Start Up:
18
Jobs Created: 75
Clients Trained: 202
Total Capital Infusion: $ 926,700.00
Total Clients Counseled: 185
140
New Clients
120
100
Extended Engagement
80
60
Long Term Clients
40
20
Business Started
0
During 2012 the American Samoa Small Business Development Center
was able to provide counseling services to 185 clients, 128 of which were new
clients.
Eighteen (18) businesses were able to open their doors to American Samoan consumers as well as support the growing workforce.
The Center was also able to trained 202 clients in areas such as business
start-up, supervisor training, grant writing, QuickBooks training and Korean
Language class.
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American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South
Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Independent State of Samoa (formerly known as Western Samoa). The main (largest and most populous) island is Tutuila, with the Manu’a
Islands, Rose Atoll, and Swains Island also included in the territory. Additionally, American Samoa was once called the “Navigators Islands” and nearly all of the islands are volcanic formations, and most of them are surrounded by coral reefs. The islands cover an area of 1,200 square miles and have a population of about 60,000 people.
Government:
United States Unincorporated
Territory
Territory of American Samoa
Capital: Pago Pago
Coordinates: 14.3°S 170.7°W
Age structure:
0-14 years: 25.8% (male 7,004/female 7,153)
15-24 years: 21.2% (male 5,754/female 5,869)
25-54 years: 41.3% (male 11,670/female 11,015)
55-64 years: 7.3% (male 1,989/female 2,022)
65 years and over: 4.5% (male 1,144/female 1,327) (2012 est.)
Birth Rate: 22.9 births/1,000 population
President of the United
States Barrack Obama (D)
Ethnic Groups/Languages:
(July 2012 est)
Native Pacific Islanders: 91.6%
Death Rate: 4.6 deaths/1,000 population
(July 2012 est)
Asians: 2.8%
Population: 54,947 (July 2012 est)
White: 1.1%
Population Growth: -0.44% (2012 est.)
Mix: 4.2%
country comparison to the world: 217
Other: 0.3%
Nationality:
Samoan
US Nationals
Governor of American Samoa
Lolo Moliga (I)
Sources: *CIA World Fact-Book
*amsamoa.net
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Each year, the American Samoa Small Business Development Center (SBDC) hosts an advisory board meet and luncheon to highlight some of the accomplishments for the year. On Friday Jan 4, Dr. Herbert Thweatt and his staff hosted the annual event at the
Tradewinds Hotel for the latest group of SBDC clients to receive a $5,000 Grant Award each via the Bank of Hawaii (BoH), for
Calendar Year 2012. BoH worked closely with SBDC for several years to identify and aid small businesses in the territory.
The following grant awardees were given commemorative plaques to
honor their Bank of Hawaii awards:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
American Samoa Culinary Academy—Chef Sualua
Island Flowers by Liana—Donna and Tamiano Gurr
Maliu Mai Beach Resort—Mapu Jamias
Ta’iala Academy—Ephraim Temple
Alanoa Florist—Aniani Sili
Sal’s Day Car Center—Lina Aumoeualogo
Talofa Hideaway Bar & Grill—Pouono Fau
Grant funds have various applications, but in general are meant to
improve, extend, supplement, renovate, increase and expand the
respective businesses as set forth in the grant applications.
Also during the luncheon, a Certificate of Appreciation was awarded to
Mr. Lee Hyun-Hwi for his eight years of service to the community as a
Korean Language Instructor, and Catherine Balauro was given a Certificate of Appreciation for five years of service with SBDC.
(Excerpts from Samoa News Article by Teri Hunkin)
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
Mr. Lee Hyun-Hwi was awarded with a Certificate of Appreciation for his eight years of service
to the American Samoa community as a Korean
Language Instructor with the SBDC.
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Dr. Seth Galea’i - President, American Samoa Community College
•
Ms. Emey Silafau - Chief Finance Officer, American Samoa Community College
•
Mr. Elesaro Sialoi - Grants Manager, American Samoa Community College
•
Mr. Alex Zodiacal - Manager, Business Dept., Department of Commerce
•
Mr. Jason Betham - Vice President, Development Bank of American Samoa
•
Mr. Joey Cummings - Manager, 93 KHJ Radio
•
Mr. Hobbs Lowson - Vice President District Manager, Bank of Hawaii
•
Mr. EJ Ozu - Commercial loans officer, Bank of Hawaii
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Mr. Aaron & Cindy Forsgren - Co-Owner, Forsgren LTD.
•
Ms. Sherrie Sele - Marketing Director, Blue Sky Communications
•
Ms. Tasi Scanlan - Commercial Loan Officer, Amerika Samoa Bank ANZ
•
Ms. Terese Salumbides - President, Amerika Samoa Bank ANZ
•
Mr. Herbert Thweatt - State Director, AS-Small Business Development Center
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Department of Commerce
American Samoa Government
Development Bank of Amerika Samoa
Bank of Hawaii
ANZ Amerika Samoa Bank
American Samoa Small Business Development Center
PO Box 2609 Pago Pago,
American Samoa 96799
Phone: 684 699-4830/ 699-4834
Fax: 684 699-8636
www.as-sbdc.org
www.sba.gov
A Partnership Program between the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) the Small Business Development Center is offered as a community service. Neither SBA’s funding nor that
from ASCC is an endorsement of any products, opinion or services. SBA and ASCC programs are extended to the public
on a non-discriminatory basis.