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CNMI SBDC provides HUBZone Certification Training

More small business owners in the CNMI are now knowledgeable about securing federal contracts thanks to a HUBZone certification training course conducted by the CNMI Small Business Development Center at the Northern Marianas College.

HUBZone is a program administered by the US Small Business Association that helps small businesses in historically underutilized business zones secure federal contracts. HUBZone certified businesses also get a 10 percent price evaluation preference in full and open contract competitions.

HUBZones are located all over the United States and its territories such as the CNMI, Guam, American Samoa, and Puerto Rico. Currently, there are 14 HUBZone certified businesses in the CNMI.

The training, which was conducted by Guam Small Business Administration Branch Manager Kenneth Lujan, focused on the application process and the eligibility requirements for the program. 

Participant Vincent Aldan of Marianas Building Inspection and Consulting Services said that the training was very informative.

“The hubzone training helped me in understanding the process in being able to provide services to the federal and local governments,” Aldan said.  “I hope to become HUBZone certified as it will give my business the competitive edge when it comes to federal contracts for projects that fall within my industry.”

To register for free one-on-one counseling by the CNMI SBDC, please register at marianas.ecenterdirect.com, email mercilynn.palec@marianas.edu or call (670) 237-6888.  

The CNMI Small Business Development Center Network (CNMI SBDCN) is hosted by the Northern Marianas College. CNMI SBDCN is partially funded by a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). 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 CNMI SBDC Network Director Nadine Deleon Guerrero at P.O.Box 501250 Saipan, MP 96950, Tel: (670) 237-6888, or email nadine.deleonguerrero@marianas.edu. Services are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. 

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CNMI SBDC to host Small Business Night at NMC

Shop local and shop small this holiday season! Individuals who are looking for gifts to buy for the upcoming holiday season are invited to visit the CNMI Small Business Development Center’s Small Business Night at the Northern Marianas College on Thursday, November 17, 2022 from 5:00pm – 8:00pm. 

Thursday’s event will feature local entrepreneurs and their products and services: 

  • Find curated holiday gift sets by Islandry670, Chiku Chiku, Neni Girl Nails, Bonitu Basula, Candle J Saipan, and LP Beautyy.
  • The event will also feature amazing home decor by E&R Enterprises, Seasoned with Hafa Adai, and Cherrymoon Co.
  • Build up an appetite for food products to be sold by: Tyler’s Gelatte Stone, La Mesa Kusina, El Bishu, Chagi Norf Kitchen, Saipan Snaps, LLC., and Camille’s Cookies and Crumbles. 
  • Get ready for the holiday season with clothing by Masisu Athletics and Mijana Official. 
  • The holiday season would not be complete without family photos. Book a session with Samantha Salamon Photography or book Bobole’s Novelties & Rentals for your next holiday party. 

The event will take place at the NMC Mango Terrace (located in the center of NMC’s campus). For each purchase made, patrons will receive one free ticket for a chance to win amazing raffle prizes donated by the vendors. 

Interested small businesses may contact mercilynn.palec@marianas.edu for vendor information or call (670) 237-6888.

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CNMI SBDCN facilitates training at 2nd annual Set SAIL Conference

The CNMI Small Business Development Center Network at the Northern Marianas College was invited to facilitate training during a breakout session at the 2nd Annual Set SAIL Conference held on April 13, 2023 at the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan. The breakout session was titled Side Hustle without the Hassle: CNMI SBDCN Programs & Services. Facilitating the training were CNMI SBDC Associate Network Director, Mercilynn K. Palec, and CNMI SBDCN Marketing Manager/Outreach Specialist, Roman Tudela. 

The Set SAIL (Students, Advocacy, Inclusion, and Leadership) Conference is a student leadership event hosted by the Northern Marianas College Office of Student Activities and Leadership.

The CNMI SBDCN pivoted this outreach opportunity to demonstrate the attainability of pursuing higher education at the Northern Marianas College in conjunction with starting a small business with support from the CNMI SBDCN. With 32 participants in the training, Associate Network Director Mercilynn K. Palec conducted a training session with interested students to become clients in order to receive CNMI SBDCN services.  

This is one of many outreach efforts to inform current and potential new small business owners of the CNMI of the services available at the CNMI SBDCN. 

Disclaimer: The CNMI Small Business Development Center Network (CNMI SBDCN) comprises the CNMI SBDC lead center located in Saipan, the Rota SBDC, and Tinian SBDC. CNMI SBDCN 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 charmaine.hofschneider@marianas.edu. Services are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis.

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Update to Medicaid’s Unwinding of COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and Returning to Regular Operations

Do you currently possess a Medicaid Card expired since March 18, 2020? If so, you now have a new expiration date.

On August 5, 2020, the Commonwealth Medicaid Agency (CMA) notified All Medicaid Providers & Beneficiaries that benefits will be automatically renewed until the end of the Public Health Emergency (Sec. 6008_USPL116-127). This provision was revised in the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023 (Sec. 5131_USPL117-328) and gives State agencies flexibility in redetermining eligibility.

As approved by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS), a Continuous Coverage Unwinding Timeline provides a definite date for all members affected. The new expiration dates will give members ample time to complete the renewal process and/or transition to other insurance options. Refer to Continuous Coverage Info-Sheet & Unwinding Timeline for details.

Medicaid will not be redistributing new cards to reflect the new expiration dates. You may submit your application for redetermination earlier than the new expiration date to receive an updated card.

This notice does not apply to members covered under the Presumptive Eligibility group. Presumptive Eligibility benefits end on May 11, 2023, therefore, you must submit a full Medicaid application and supporting documents to continue your coverage.

All individuals who apply for Medicaid must be a United States (U.S.) Citizen, U.S. National, Freely Associated States (FAS) Citizens or a Qualified Alien who meets the immigration status to be eligible for benefits and must be a resident of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.  

For more information, please contact or visit our office locations at:

Saipan

Capitol Hill, Gov’t. Bldg. 1252

Tel: (670) 664-4880/4882 

Office Hours: Monday to Thursdays – 7:30 am to 1:00 pm (Closed on Fridays) 

Tinian 

Tinian Health Center 

Tel: (670) 433-9263/9233

Office Hours: Monday to Friday – 7:30 am to 4:30 pm 

Rota

Rota Health Center 

Tel: (670) 532-9461/62 

Office Hours: Monday to Friday – 7:30 am to 4:30 pm 

You may send an email to info@cnmimedicaid.org for more information.

Application forms are available at: medicaid.cnmi.mp 

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Medicaid Continuous Coverage Update

Do you currently possess a Medicaid Card expired since March 18, 2020? If so, you now have a new expiration date.

On August 5, 2020, the Commonwealth Medicaid Agency (CMA) notified All Medicaid Providers & Beneficiaries that benefits will be automatically renewed until the end of the Public Health Emergency (Sec. 6008_USPL116-127). This provision was revised in the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023 (Sec. 5131_USPL117-328) and gives State agencies flexibility in redetermining eligibility.

As approved by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS), a Continuous Coverage Unwinding Timeline provides a definite date for all members affected. The new expiration dates will give members ample time to complete the renewal process and/or transition to other insurance options. Refer to Continuous Coverage Info-Sheet & Unwinding Timeline for details.

Medicaid will not be redistributing new cards to reflect the new expiration dates. You may submit your application for redetermination earlier than the new expiration date to receive an updated card.

This notice does not apply to members covered under the Presumptive Eligibility group. Presumptive Eligibility benefits end on May 11, 2023, therefore, you must submit a full Medicaid application and supporting documents to continue your coverage.

All individuals who apply for Medicaid must be a United States (U.S.) Citizen, U.S. National, Freely Associated States (FAS) Citizens or a Qualified Alien who meets the immigration status to be eligible for benefits and must be a resident of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.  

For more information, please contact or visit our office locations at:

Saipan

Capitol Hill, Gov’t. Bldg. 1252

Tel: (670) 664-4880/4882 

Office Hours: Monday to Thursdays – 7:30 am to 1:00 pm (Closed on Fridays) 

Tinian 

Tinian Health Center 

Tel: (670) 433-9263/9233

Office Hours: Monday to Friday – 7:30 am to 4:30 pm 

Rota

Rota Health Center 

Tel: (670) 532-9461/62 

Office Hours: Monday to Friday – 7:30 am to 4:30 pm 

You may send an email to info@cnmimedicaid.org for more information.

Application forms are available at: medicaid.cnmi.mp 

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Medicaid Agencies Train on Medicaid SLR for the EHR Incentive Program

February 3-8, 2013 – The State Medicaid Agencies from the U.S. Territories participated in a week-long training in the use of the State Level Registry (SLR) that is required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program to exchange data with the National Level Repository (NLR) of the CMS.

After registration with the NLR, the SLR is a system which enables the Eligible Hospitals and Eligible Providers (EPs) to submit information to the State Medicaid Agencies when attesting for the CMS EHR Incentive program. The State Medicaid Agencies then audit the information submitted by the providers. Following the audit, the SMA submits payment requests to the CMS.

The training was provided by Carla Mitchell of the State of Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services in partnership with Christina Higa, Kaina Lingaton, and Ginger Porter of the Telecommunications and Social Informatics (TASI) Program of the University of Hawaii.

Just prior to the training, Kaina Lingaton and Karthick Jenadoss completed the final testing of the CNMI State Level Registry with Joshua Volosov and the technical team of the CMS. Providers in the CNMI are now able to register and attest for the Medicaid EHR Incentive program.

The CNMI Team included Helen Sablan (Director), Kimberley Borja, Cid Mostales, Remy Reyes, and Kayleen Sablan. The Guam SMA was represented by Theresa Arcangel (Director) and Janet B. Cruz. American Samoa was represented by Dianne Leomiti, Pou Fau, and Chris Andales.

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TurnKey Solutions discusses electronic recording services platform with Rotarians

TURNKEY Solutions on Tuesday talked about the e-recording services platform of the Commonwealth Recorder’s Office with the Rotary Club of Saipan.

TurnKey Solutions’ Billy Grow II and Joe Guerrero, and Commonwealth Recorder’s Kelsey Aldan were the Rotarians’ guest speakers during the club’s weekly luncheon meeting at the Hyatt Regency Saipan’s Giovanni’s Restaurant.

The development of an electronic recording services platform was the CNMI judiciary’s response to the enactment of Public Law 21-39 which allows the Commonwealth Recorder’s Office to transition into electronic recordation of documents, ranging from marriage records to land-related documents.

Guerrero said the CNMI is the first in the Pacific region to have an e-recording services platform, and is ahead of many other jurisdictions on the U.S. mainland.

The e-recording services platform provides the Commonwealth with an integrated online portal for submitting documents, maps and images.

Grow said individuals or entities will be able to create their own user name and password, and register all their records, including those pertaining to land transactions.

He said TurnKey Solutions is the local partner of U.S.-based TriMin Systems, a leading provider of software solutions for county recorder and register of deeds offices.

Grow said the platform is user-friendly, uses different languages, provides quick process, and is convenient because people can submit their documents online, 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

For more information, email services@turnkeysolutions.io/.

2023