The CNMI Small Business Development Center Network delivers professional, high quality, individualized business advising and technical assistance to existing small businesses and pre-venture entrepreneurs.
CNMI SBDC provides problem-solving assistance to help small businesses access capital, develop and exchange new technologies, and improve business planning, strategy, operations, financial management, personnel administration, marketing, export assistance, sales and other areas required for small business growth and expansion, management improvement, increased productivity and innovation.
Creation of the SBDC Program: The Small Business Development Center program was established in 1980 through the Small Business Development Act. It is funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and administered in partnership with state governments, universities, and other local organizations.
Expansion to U.S. Territories: SBDCs were established not only in the U.S. mainland but also in U.S. territories and outlying areas, including the CNMI.
CNMI SBDC Establishment: The CNMI SBDC was established to support the development and growth of small businesses in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. It provides a range of services and resources to help entrepreneurs and small business owners start, grow, and succeed in their endeavors.
Services Provided: The CNMI SBDC, like other SBDCs, offers a variety of services, including one-on-one counseling, business training and workshops, access to capital, market research, and assistance with business plans. These services are designed to address the specific needs and challenges of small businesses in the CNMI.
Community Impact: Over the years, the CNMI SBDC has played a crucial role in the development of the local small business community. It has helped entrepreneurs and small business owners with a wide range of issues, from business planning to accessing funding, and from navigating regulatory requirements to expanding into new markets.
Continued Growth: The CNMI SBDC, like other SBDCs across the United States and its territories, continues to evolve and adapt to the changing needs of the small business community. It remains an essential resource for small business owners in the CNMI.
Galvin Deleon Guerrero, or Dr. G as he is called, is the president of Northern Marianas College and has dedicated his life to education. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Puget Sound, a Master of Arts degree in School Administration from the University of San Francisco, a certificate in digital filmmaking from New York University, and an education doctorate in organizational change leadership from the University of Southern California’s Rossier School of Education.
For over two decades, he has served in many educational policy positions, including the state Board of Education for the Northern Mariana Islands, the Board of Regents for Northern Marianas College, and as an education adviser for the Office of the Governor in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. He has also served in numerous educational leadership positions in K-12 and post-secondary institutions, including vice principal, principal, director of institutional development, director of institutional effectiveness, accreditation liaison officer, and school president. Along the way, he has continued to teach high school and college courses in Speech and Debate, AP English Literature, AP US History, and AP US Politics and Government. As a scholar, he has also made an impact in academia, with work at the Marianas History Conference, the University of Guam Sustainability Conference, and his doctoral research on prior learning assessment.
Over the years, Dr. G has also coached and mentored hundreds of students in theatre, film, speech, debate, and mock trial. With Mount Carmel School’s Theatre Club, he has produced over 50 stage and film productions ranging from plays by William Shakespeare, Disney musicals, to original scripts. These productions included award-winning films that have been featured in film festivals around the world, such as the “We Drank Our Tears” anthology that tells the stories of indigenous Chamorro and Carolinian civilians surviving during the World War II battles on Saipan. In speech, debate, and mock trial, he has coached 16 winners in the Attorney General’s Cup Speech Competition and nine winning teams in the CNMI Mock Trial Competition.
For all his accomplishments, Dr. G has also been recognized with many awards, including distinction in the Who’s Who organization, nominations for both the Rhodes and Marshall fellowships, three separate awards from the Northern Mariana Islands Humanities Council, and the Saipan Rotary Club’s Citizen of the Year Award. Last but not least, Dr. G is a devoted family man who is full of love and pride for his wife, Velma, and his three children, Victoria, William, and Mary Shelley.
Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of a diversified economy, because through their creativity and innovation, they help create jobs, increase productivity, and grow our economy from the ground up. Growing our economy is undoubtedly one of the most important priorities of our Commonwealth, and it requires supporting local entrepreneurs with bold ideas. NMC is proud to partner with the CNMI SBDC and support local entrepreneurs in realizing their potential as vital contributors to a diversified economy and a vibrant community here in the Marianas.
In January 2022, the CNMI Small Business Development Center was established in the Commonwealth as its own Network comprising its Lead Center in Saipan and Service Centers on the islands of Tinian and Rota with the Northern Marianas College as its Host Institution. At the heart of the Northern Mariana Islands’ economic growth stands the CNMI Small Business Development Center (SBDC). With a mission to empower local businesses, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive support and resources for entrepreneurs and small business owners.
The CNMI Small Business Development Center (CNMI SBDC) Network comprises the CNMI SBDC lead center located in Saipan, the Rota SBDC, and Tinian SBDC. CNMI SBDC Network is partially funded by a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Northern Marianas College. All opinions, conclusions, or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA. Requests for reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Language assistance services are available for limited English proficient individuals with at least two weeks advance notice. For arrangements, please contact your local SBDC at P.O.Box 501250 Saipan, MP 96950, Tel: (670) 237-6888, or email adelpha.magofna@marianas.edu. Services are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis.