THE Commonwealth Economic Development Authority received $440,000 from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration to examine the feasibility of the Tinian beef cattle industry and provide technical support to the local ranchers of the Tinian Cattlemen’s Association.
The study will help provide a roadmap to attract private investment and advance economic resiliency on Tinian and the CNMI, CEDA said.
In addition, the project aims to create a comprehensive inventory of beef cattle resources for Tinian, provide training workshops to the community, and identify business opportunities and potential markets.
“We are thankful to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration for awarding us these much needed funds to help our Tinian ranchers and revitalize our beef industry,” CEDA Executive Director Manuel Sablan said. “This project is a milestone for the people of Tinian and the CNMI.”
Tinian Cattlemen’s Association President Jose Dela Cruz said he is excited for this project to start.
“It is a cause for celebration,” he added. “The feasibility study that will be conducted will be very thorough and will help us with all the facets of this industry and our slaughterhouse.”
Tinian’s slaughterhouse, or the Tinian Kualidat Meat Processing Center, is run by the Municipality of Tinian and the Tinian Cattlemen’s Association. The center opened on Aug. 13, 2021, and is currently working to be certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“This will open up new doors for the cattle industry,” Dela Cruz said. “It’s great that all the agencies and the entire community are all on the same page when it comes to this project.”
Benefits from this project include a diversified economy, enhanced food security and increased product profitability.
The project also supports workforce education through industry-focused technical assistance, which will lead to skills training. The direct connection to existing resources will lead to competitive, quality jobs, project proponents said.
An estimated 14 jobs will be created or retained as a direct outcome of the project, they added.
Since cattle ranchers comprise much of the current workforce, Tinian’s beef industry aims to retain those jobs and expand opportunities that support various segments of beef cattle production, such as feedlot production, ranchers or ranch hands, logistics and transportation, meat processing and operations, certified health and safety inspectors, sales and marketing, waste and offal removal services, and more.
Senate President Jude U. Hofschneider said this is a “monumental occasion” for Tinian.
“It has always been the dream of the Tinian community over the last 10-15 years to reestablish the beef industry on the island,” Hofschneider said. “We hope that this grant will jump-start other opportunities and to help us drive our food security initiatives that the Tinian leadership has been pushing for. We are very concerned about this — we want to make sure our food supply is secure when the next disaster or pandemic strikes.”
CEDA will work directly with the Municipality of Tinian and the Tinian Cattlemen’s Association in implementing the project. For its part, Northern Marianas College-Cooperative Research, Extension, and Education Services will provide technical assistance for the duration of the project.
From left, Tinian rancher Ike Kiyoshi, Tinian Mayor Edwin Aldan, Mayor of Tinian staffer Carl Lou Espinosa, Northern Marianas College-Cooperative Research, Extension, and Education Services Interim Dean Patricia Coleman, Commonwealth Economic Development Authority loan manager Marie Coleman, Tinian Municipal Council Chairman Joseph Santos, Sen. Francisco Cruz, CEDA Board Member Jocelyn King, CNMI Small Business Development Center Director/Adviser Benjamin Borja, Tinian Cattlemen’s Association Vice President and NMC-CREES employee Sam Palacios, Tinian Cattlemen’s Association President Jose Dela Cruz, Senate President Jude U. Hofschneider, Department of Public Lands Director Bernie San Nicolas, NMC Tinian Center Executive Director Maria H. Aguon, Rep. Patrick San Nicolas and Public Land Advisory Board Member Melanie Cruz.
Cattle from Tinian Cattlemen’s Association President Jose Dela Cruz’s ranch.
