 and welcome to Adventures in Small Business. This is a collaborative effort by the US Small Business Administration, Hawaii, Small Business Development Center, the Patsy Mink Center for Business and Leadership, and the Veteran Outreach Center for the Pacific. We showcase stories of local small businesses. My name is Sandra Cancinos, and I'm with the SBA Hawaii District Office. Today we have Valerie Lam, Business Development Coordinator, and Hao Wen, Deputy Director of Operations of the Pacific Gateway Center. Welcome to the show. Recently, I took a tour of your facilities. Just amazing work that you guys are doing there. So many small businesses go in there and cook and work and just the amount of love that is put into that facility is really amazing. So I just want to let you have the opportunity to talk about introduction of the Pacific Gateway Center. Yeah, so the facility that you saw is our Kalihi Commercial Kitchen, and that's just one of the programs that we have supporting small businesses. Pacific Gateway Center is a nonprofit organization that came about in 1973 by three churches. St. Elizabeth's, Aldergate, and Kalama Cup Polly. It was in response to an influx of immigrants from Vietnam and Southeast Asia during that time because at that time there was a lot of civil war and a lot of civil strife there. In 1984, we became an official 501C3, and we were the Kalihi Palama Immigration Service Center. And then in 1999, we actually were dubbed Pacific Gateway Center. So we started serving immigrants and refugees, asylum seekers, victims of human trafficking, and kind of the reason why I started talking about how the evolution of our organization's name has changed, it also speaks to the evolution of our services. It really is about the needs of our clients. And so like I said, we started with immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, victims of human trafficking, and that still is very much a part of our direct servicing clients. But what we've seen is that a lot of the people in these communities are coming from low-income situations. And so as far as the needs that have been demanded of us, we're realizing that we also have to help people in vulnerable situations, such as those in low-income populations. The tenants of our organization are to survive and thrive. And so our programs and services on survival deal with providing direct social services, like food, shelter, clothing for our immigrant population, language access. But the thrive element, and that's our main mission and goal for all of our clients, is to empower them to self-sufficiency. And so that's where the economic development and the helping in terms of entrepreneurship comes about. Can you elaborate a little bit on the entrepreneurship segment of your organization? How is it that someone can come in and ask for help and how to dig into the programs? What different type of programs do you have to be self-sufficient in your organization? Absolutely. So in terms of economic advancement, we do job placement, job creation, job training, and education. We provide ESL classes, and we're working in terms of longevity and quality of life for people for social and economic integration, especially for our immigrant population. But as far as our specific programs for entrepreneurship are concerned, we have the culinary business incubator, which we call CBI. That's the commercial kitchen in Kalihi. It serves about 130 entrepreneurs. Well, we serve, generally, 130 entrepreneurs. On a daily basis, monthly or yearly? It's our, is that our annual, or is that our monthly? Is it monthly? Monthly? OK. Oh, OK. Yeah. That's a lot. And so that's just one element is CBI, which is the commercial kitchen. So for those who are interested in creating a food startup, like a food truck or a catering business, or if you're looking at trying to create a business that does value added food processing, bottling, cookies, baked goods, things like that, and you don't have access to the equipment or you don't have access to the commercial kitchen space, that's what we're there to help you with. Additionally, we have farmer entrepreneurs. This started because a lot of our immigrant clients were originally farmers from the original country that they came from. And so when they came here, we helped facilitate finding land. We helped facilitate training in terms of food safety and other regulatory requirements that come with being a farmer here in the United States. And then we also have our Paradise Enterprise incubator. So I've already talked about our CBI, which is our kitchen, our farm incubator, and then our Paradise Enterprise incubator, which is more the business side of things. So if entrepreneurs are looking to understand how to test markets or how to do marketing in general or looking to develop a business plan from that very basic beginning, Paradise Enterprise incubator is there for them for that. As a deputy director, how is it that someone, I am interested in participating in one or all your programs, how does one go about getting into the program? We just have to find a match. We want to know about the need of our clients. So particularly in the business, for example, or for example, of the culinary business incubator. And they wanted to start a food truck. But then we've got to have somebody go through the process of intake, sit down, talk with them about it. We see that people, are they ready, what kind of experience they have? How much do they know about their own business? Do you guide them through that? Do you tell them, you know, this is X, Y, Z, this is what you need, this is what you need to have, this is where you can get what you need? Yes. People came in walking with different background experience. Somebody already have the business idea, or already is ready to go. They only need the vicinity and the space. But somebody just came in with this idea, I really want to do this, and where should I start? And we just go through the process and evaluate the experience and background. And then if we have expertise in how we're going to provide, if not, we refer to our carnival rating, like a small business administration, how are small business events. And so you said you have multiple locations? Yeah, so our main office is in Kalihi at the commercial kitchen. We also have the farm in Kunia. And then most recently, one of our newer projects is actually the Nakapuna Makama Community Center, which is directed towards Kapuna, their families, and the community at large. That space actually doesn't just serve as a community center and a gathering space, but it's also a platform for any of our entrepreneurs to do sales. We do a twice monthly farmers market there. And our immigrant farmers actually sell some of their produce there. And some of our Kapuna, who are looking for a third act as entrepreneurs, actually sell crafts and other goods there as well. Awesome. And so most recently, which is not a location, but most recently, we have been granted some federal funding for Pacific Gateway Center's social enterprise program, which is PGCSEP. Yes. So tell me a little bit more about that program, because I know you guys are wanting to promote your course. Yeah, I'm going to let Dr. Hao take it. Oh, yeah. This is our latest initiative in the job creation business development for our clients and for Hawaii. Yeah, the island of Hawaii. So the program itself, the reason we came up with the idea and learned the program because of the traditional form of business is that the ultimate goal is to say, and for the revenue, how much money you're going to generate and how much profit you're going to gain, that the element of social enterprises emphasize on the social element, the responsibility, that how the company, in addition to the profit they try to maximize, is a responsibility and give back to the community what they can. In varied forms, either through the generate or create job or people living on the poverty level or low income or give back as short of the profit for the community. And so this program, how long is it like a length of time that the program, somebody can join for the program? It's a five years program. It's a five year program. We are very fortunate to be part of the initiative of the government. And we are one of the six agencies in the organization already receiving the funding to help the small business in Hawaii. So both in the profit or non-profit, either start up or looking for expansion. So for this program, is there a specific industry that an entrepreneur needs to be to be into the program? No, they don't have to be. The main criteria to qualify to be a participant is you can be a non-profit or a for-profit organization that you have a business idea. So whether it's a start up business idea or you have this business already and you're looking for expansion, you're qualified. And when you say expansion, are you talking about having the program fund for location or an extra truck? Right. That's actually tangible. You're looking for tangible examples, right? And so the social portion of it all, is it just by giving back it, are you guys associated with specific organizations or is it just anybody that they feel the entrepreneur feels that they want to get back to? Is it their community and the community in general, all the islands? So I think one of the interesting things about Hawaii and business is that the value of community building is integral to being a business in Hawaii. And when you're a social enterprise, you're tapping into that value. So whether you're a non-profit organization that in the past has basically done garage sales out of the back of the executive director or the president's backyard, and now you want to actually create a brick and mortar store, and the intention is to help with fundraising for your non-profit organization or your catering business. And it's important that you highlight your ethnic culture. And so there's a value there that you're trying to give back, whether it's as a non-profit organization or a for-profit organization, that's what we're looking for, is that you have more than just a single bottom line. It's not just about your profits, but it's about community engagement and community building as well for your business. So what are some of the unique problems and challenges that you face as rolling out this program? The rolling out of the programs is very important to reach out to the business community, to the agency, to the non-profit agency that want to develop a social venture or expanding their social ventures. Or the for-profit that they want to launch their business or expand their business to understand about that social responsibility and the meaning behind it to create a job for the local people here in Hawaii, the full-time job and full benefit. They can have a better life, they increase the household incomes, and they themselves and other members in the family have a better well-being, either we invest into health care or education. So for those potential participants that are coming from low-income backgrounds or different cultures in different countries, challenges for them that are unique to them include just being able to speak the language and access. If you're low-income oftentimes access to capital, access to whether that capital is monetary, equipment, or facilities, for those who are of immigrant backgrounds, like I said, language issues, navigating the regulation and navigating the bureaucracy of establishing a business. So luckily, in our situation as a non-profit and with our legacy, we have the ability to provide wraparound services for folks who are coming from those backgrounds. So whether it's direct social services that help you get transportation so that you can make it to a meeting or child care, we are working with partners, and we ourselves have those services to provide. Awesome, awesome. Well, in the same time, it's not to address the issue of the employee if you are a business owner and you have employee. Sometimes you don't know the issue of the employee facing in life, of the daily life. And so we offer such a service, as I mentioned by Vow. So the employer can retain the employee. And the employee can continue the work while their own family issue can be addressed. So that's why what she means by wraparound services. But in addition to that, she mentioned about the particular duty of immigrant and come here and have so many difficulties and challenges. Even the local one, they have any normal business matter that they do not have a strong business background or experience or lack of happiness. So our program offers a very low interest microloan. Hopefully that one is a, we try to provide a full set of menus of services of wraparound services. From capital to business plans to- Visit training, technical assistance to social services. Okay, awesome. We'll be right back with Adventures in Small Business. Hello, I'm Mofi Hanuman. I wanna tell you about a great show that appears on Think Tech Hawaii. It's all about tourism. In fact, we call it Tourism 101, where we talk about the issues and challenges that faces our number one industry throughout the state. We'll have some interesting guests, very informative dialogue and allow you an opportunity to maybe learn a little bit more by why this industry is so important for our state. It's been great for us in the past. We need it today and especially going forward. That's Tourism 101 on Think Tech Hawaii. Mahalo. Aloha, I'm Keisha King, host of At the Crossroads, where we have conversations that are real and relevant. We have spoken with community leaders from right here locally in Hawaii and all around the world. Won't you join us on thinktechhawaii.com or on YouTube on the Think Tech Hawaii channel. Our conversations are real, relevant, and lots of fun. I'll see you at the crossroads. Aloha. And thank you for coming back to Adventures in Small Business. So Val and how, just wondering with Pacific Gateway Center, who are some of your partners and how do you make this work with other organizations, agencies around here in Hawaii? So our organization has been in Hawaii for over 40 years and we are very fortunate. It has a tablet, great collaboration with many agencies at the federal level, government and private sector and other nonprofits. In the area of business development, dog creation and economic advancement, we received a lot of support from small business administration. We now collaborate with them. Hawaii Small Business Development Center, including past semis, business and leadership, Center for Business and Leadership, and we have the University of Hawaii Pacific Business Center program and the Hololulu Minority Business Development Agency at UAE as well. So those collaborators have been working with us over the year to support all the many small business that you, as Val mentioned earlier, they're over 130 months that we have to work with. So that is in area of business services. So for those of clients that come to us and need access to the capital, in particular program now we have the PGC-SEP program, so for enterprise program, we have established a collaboration with the Hawaii Community Reinvestment Corporation, the local initiative support collaboration and the BAT, Department of Economic Business and Development and Tourism, right? So social enterprise program, how would one enroll into the program if someone was interested in joining? So if folks are interested in being part of PGC-SEP, all they do have to do is reach out to us. We can be reached at 808-851-7010, that's 808-851-7010, or you can email us at info at PacificGatewayCenter.org. Dr. Haun Nguyen is the program manager and then also Skyler Smella is also a program coordinator with us. Okay, and so as you mentioned, you work with a lot of agencies around the state of Hawaii. So what makes Pacific Gateway Center's SDP program different from other agencies in other organizations? Well, as we said earlier, right? So we help, our target population is not just only low-income people and all the people, the local people, they're including the newly-arrival, and those ones who came in with so many challenges need help from us. And we provide, not just only, as earlier we mentioned, the business services, but then the other wrap-around social services to help both the business owner, the employee, and the ultimate goal is to help them to learn an employment-generated job. I think what makes Pacific Gateway Center's program, the PGC-SEP program, unique is because we're not only just providing the business services like Dr. Howe said, but we're also trying to deal with the real-to-life challenges that make it difficult for small businesses to start up or to expand. Okay, and I had another question. If somebody doesn't have access to, say, the internet or maybe a phone in their own different islands, how would one go about trying to contact you? Okay, from a different island? From a different island. Yeah, I know. Without a phone, without the internet. Those are any offices around in any of the islands? We infiltrate the locations. Unfortunately, our main offices are here on O'ahuaco. Okay, got it. Okay, no problem. So there will have to be a phone call or an email at some point. And so besides contacting you through phone and email, is there any events that Pacific Gateway Center holds for people to come in and just get a brief workshop or introduction of all the programs? So unrelated specifically to PGC-SEP, we actually, like I said, have a farmer's market in Kakaako at Nakapuna Makamai. It's on the corner of Keave and Alamoana Boulevard. Our next farmer's market where they'll be staffing there and they'll be folks that can talk about some of our social enterprise programs will be December the 13th. Okay, and so just bringing it back to SBA. So I know that SBA has worked along with Pacific Gateway Center in the past. And just can you elaborate a little bit on how we collaborated together? Well, I have a direct experience with Mary Dale, Lisa Mary Dale. So like, when she, this is so helpful in terms of like putting different resources and she's a great coordinator with a different state agency to bring in a workshop for our clients, you know. So one of them is just like, we go through, so again, that we go through our client and document the need. And based on that, we work with SBA and Mary in particular and create a series of workshops for our client from the startup, marketing, how to register for business and how to take care of financial management and business management. So she brought in the expert from the department of taxation. We're talking about loan and insurance. So cover a variety of topics but cater to the need of our client. So it's very, very helpful and helpful. Would these workshops have a fee to attend? Has a fee? No, no, no. It's open, right? So we are non-profit. Everybody come, came to us and we support them and it is a, even Mary and bring in all the expert, they all fee. Okay. And are there any events coming up maybe in the next month or so? With related to PGC-SEP. Right now, the way that we're handling intake is we want to gather interest. And so if there's anyone who is interested, give us a call, get in touch and either Dr. Hao or Skyler will do intake with you and do an assessment. And then from there, once we have a good critical mass, I guess you could say, we'll actually start scheduling and figuring out the program for training. Okay. And so what would be your biggest, the biggest takeaway that you want people to know about? Well, it is you 40 year non-profit to our mission that we gotta go back to our mission to help assist the low income immigrant refugees, survival of human trafficking and other vulnerable groups in Hawaii. So, and through the education and training, skill building so that they can survive and try and to gain the self-sufficiency. We empower them and in the same time to help them continue their culture. They can soon integrate into the American society and but on their own. And so out of curiosity, is there any of the small businesses that use your facilities? And Kiheke, I mean, Kalihi. No outside, you know, any food trucks and street that they post here. So I think I sent you some photos. Some of the business that people do recognize 808 Express Kitchen, it's a local family run business. Gary Talbert and his family you catering for local Hawaiian foods. Awesome. Aunty Nani's Hawaiian cookies. She's actually Kapuna. She's in her third act. And so she's baking and basically it's actually really interesting. She's a good case study. She has always been at festivals and pop-ups and she wants to expand and start working on e-commerce. So she just had her first Instagram account that she just opened. Let's see. We also, the Pig and the Lady actually was an incubation business that was in our building in Chinatown. Yeah. Oh, that's great. Amazing. So they're known. And they're an expansion at this point. Yeah. Okay, got it. All right. So thank you so much for coming in and I appreciate your time. And if you wanna reiterate where the people can contact you to or email you, that'd be great. Yeah, so we're at Pacific Gateway Center. Our location is 723C Umi Street here in Honolulu. And we can be reached at 808-851-7010 or info at PacificGatewayCenter.org. All right, thank you. Thank you so much for tuning in to Adventures in Small Business. See you next time.