TO Rep. John Paul Sablan, chairman, Saipan & Northern Islands Legislative Delegation.
Dear Chairman Sablan:
On behalf of The Marianas Business Network, I am writing to express our deep concern and disappointment regarding the recent veto of our $5,000 funding request by the Governor. As a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to supporting the small business community across the CNMI, this funding was not only crucial — it was a lifeline.
We support the small business community by offering free access to essential resources, professional development opportunities, and business networking. Recently, we brought these services to Rota, and we are preparing to do the same for Tinian. The funding we requested would be used to support our organization’s operational costs and help small businesses obtain important certifications — such as ServSafe — which require fees for both the certification and a certified proctor. Every dollar directly benefits local entrepreneurs by giving them access to tools and training that strengthen their businesses and improve their chances of success.
Our recent success with the Marianas Business Showcase demonstrated this impact clearly. Over 30 local vendors participated, many of whom received subsidized booth fees through our organization. Feedback collected from the event was unanimously positive, with all survey respondents rating it a perfect 5. One vendor reported securing over $5,000 in B2B sales as a direct result of connections made at the showcase.
To date, we have funded this work out-of-pocket, often sacrificing time and resources from our own businesses to support others. It is both financially and emotionally taxing, yet we continue because we know our work is creating tangible outcomes.
To learn that our organization was among those vetoed was both shocking and disheartening — not just to our board, but to our dedicated volunteers and the small businesses we support. We respectfully urge you to reconsider our funding request. This modest $5,000 investment would allow us to continue serving our islands’ small business community and create a return far greater than its monetary value.
We are a boots-on-the-ground nonprofit making a measurable difference. With your support, we can continue helping those who need it most.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
PK P DAIGO
Co-Founder & President
The Marianas Business Network
