Government, private sector work together to help public start small businesses

A series of workshops highlighting how to start a "Small Business" in the territory is the goal of the partnership between the Department of Commerce, Chamber of Commerce and the Development Bank of American Samoa who are hosting a workshop today for anyone interested in starting a business.
 
DOC Director Keniseli Lafaele said the workshop is an initiative the DOC, Chamber and DBAS are implementing to meet the governor's goal of boosting economic development.
 
During a meeting held on Wednesday, Chamber chairman David Robinson thanked DOC and DBAS for the partnership and added that this is the first time that the government and the private sector are working closely on a program like this.
 
DBAS Acting President Jason Betham urged members of the public who are interested to attend these workshops, the first of which will be held today at the Lee Auditorium in Utulei.
 
Acting Territorial Planner for the Planning Division of DOC, Line-Noue M. Kruse, responding to queries sent by Samoa News said this will be the first in a series of workshops aimed to assist our community members toward economic self sufficiency. “Instead of thinking what job can I get, we want to change the discussion to — what business can I develop to care for our families.
 
“Work for ourselves, using our own ingenuity and wit,” said Kruse. “The morning session will be in Samoan, starting at 8:45 am to 12:30 pm at the Lee Auditorium and light refreshments will be served then, the English session (exact same workshops, no difference except for the language) will begin at 12:45 pm and end at 4:45 pm. 
 
There will be presentations and tables to help answer questions, according to Kruse, who said the DOC will elaborate on obtaining a business license and the Land Use Permit Application, while DBAS will focus on how to attain loans, tax information and filing and how to structure your business financing (corporate, non-profit, sole proprietorship, etc.)
 
She further stated that ANZ will also be presenting banking information and how to get loans. “Please be mindful, this is just the first installment of workshops, there will be many more to come to assist Samoan owned businesses in the territory."