BUSINESS BRIEFS
SBA issues record number of loans
Advertiser Staff and News Services
The U.S. Small Business Administration's Hawai'i office provided a record number of loans in the 12-month period ending Sept. 30, according to the SBA Hawai'i district office.
The local office helped to issue 523 small business loans during that period, an increase of 29 percent from the same period in 2007. The loans topped $57.9 million, up 6 percent from the previous year.
Twenty-three financial institutions provided financing for small-business loans that are guaranteed by the SBA.
Bank of Hawaii led all financial institutions with 87 loans, worth $9.6 million, and was named Lender of the Year for Category 1. Central Pacific Bank claimed first place in Category 2 by providing 65 loans valued at $5.9 million.
Andrew Poepoe, SBA district director, credited participating lenders for their commitment to small businesses, particularly during current tough economic times.
For information about financing tools and eligibility, call the SBA at 541-2990 or visit www.sba.gov.
HPU HOSTS WEEK FOR ENTREPRENEURS
Hawai'i Pacific University will host a weeklong series of events to encourage entrepreneurship at Global Entrepreneurship Week, taking place Nov. 17-22 at various Downtown locations and the Windward Hawai'i Loa Campus.
The week will include a wide range of opportunities for participants and attendees, including invention competitions, networking events, investor feedback sessions, individual school-based activities and an entrepreneurship summit.
For more information about Global EW and a complete list of events, visit www.gewhawaii.org or call the HPU Entrepreneurship Center at 687-7068.
DOWNTOWN OFFICE EARNS EPA HONOR
The Pacific Guardian Center office complex in Downtown Honolulu has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star, the national symbol for protecting the environment through superior energy performance.
Pacific Guardian Center is using about 35 percent less energy than average buildings, said H. Brian Moore, company vice president. Pacific Guardian Center lowered its energy usage by making cost-effective improvements to its building and reducing greenhouse emissions, he said.
"Pacific Guardian Center is pleased to accept EPA's Energy Star in recognition of our energy efficiency efforts," Moore said. "Through this achievement, we have demonstrated our commitment to environmental stewardship, while also lowering our energy costs."
$30K TO FUND CONSTRUCTION TRAINING
The Hawaii Building Industry Foundation has received a $30,000 grant from the Haseko Training Fund to provide workforce training in the construction industry.
The grant, which is administered by the Hawai'i Community Foundation, will offer adults 18 and older in the 'Ewa and 'Ewa Beach areas an opportunity to participate in a pre-apprenticeship training program named ComPACT: "Building Skills to Build Lives."
Project ComPACT is a training program developed in Hawai'i by the Construction Training Center of the Pacific and is based on the Residential Construction Academy program developed by the Home Builders Institute.
Applications are available online at www.biahawaii.org or may be picked up at Construction Training Center of the Pacific at 1727 Dillingham Blvd. The deadline for applications is Monday. For more information, contact Barbara Nishikawa at 847-4666, ext. 212, or by e-mail at bln@biahawaii.org.
