UH Pacific Business Center Program selected to manage $250,000 development for U.S. Department of the Interior

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Contact:
Dorothy Chen, (808) 956-2495
Pacific Business Center Program
Posted: Sep 22, 2005

HONOLULU — The University of Hawaiʻi Pacific Business Center Program (PBCP) was recently awarded $250,000 by the U.S. Department of the Interior‘s Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) to improve the level of private sector-led economic development in the U.S. insular areas. These areas consist of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, the Republics of Palau and the Marshall Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Working closely with OIA staff, PBCP will develop and manage various market research, outreach and business development activities over the next year. These activities are specifically targeted at increasing the number of private sector partners for U.S. insular area-based economic development projects.

"By promoting an increase in the level of private sector-led economic development in the U.S. Insular Areas, and thereby increasing the diversity and sustainability of the industries in each area, the University of Hawaiʻi hopes to create win-win situations for both the insular area island economies and for their U.S.-based private sector partners," said UH Interim President David McClain.

McClain further stated, "For more than twenty years, PBCP has worked closely with the OIA on a number of projects in the region. We are confident that with the combined contacts and experience that each party brings to the table, we will achieve our goals for this project."

About the Pacific Business Center Program

The Pacific Business Center Program in the College of Business Administration at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa was established in 1979. The program provides governments, companies, and institutions in Hawai‘i and throughout the Pacific Islands with diverse management and technical assistance. PBCP is part of the University Economic Development Association (UEDA), formerly the National Association Management and Technical Assistance Center. UEDA provides resources to enhance the performance of university-based organizations and their affiliates providing economic development, business and technical assistance to businesses and communities.

In the last three years, PBCP has received consecutive University Economic Development Association (UEDA) Outstanding Project of the Year awards for projects completed in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, American Samoa and in Hawaiʻi.

PBCP funders include the U.S. Department of the Interior‘s Office of Insular Affairs, the U.S. Department of Commerce‘s Economic Development Administration, the UH Mānoa College of Business Administration, the Commonwealth Development Authority, and the Republic of Palau‘s Ministry of Commerce & Trade.

For more information about PBCP, visit http://www.hawaii.edu/pbcp.

About the U.S. Department of Interior

The Department of the Interior (DOI) is the nation‘s principal conservation agency. Their mission is to protect America‘s treasures for future generations, provide access to our nation‘s natural and cultural heritage, offer recreation opportunities, honor our trust responsibilities to American Indians and Alaska Natives and our responsibilities to island communities, conduct scientific research, provide wise stewardship of energy and mineral resources, foster sound use of land and water resources, and conserve and protect fish and wildlife. For more information, visit http://www.doi.gov/index.html.

For more information, visit: http://www.hawaii.edu/pbcp