(NMC) — Innovators in the CNMI Innovation Incubator Program successfully completed a Legal Readiness Workshop on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at the Incubator Makerspace in Beach Road Plaza. Conducted in collaboration with Northern Marianas College’s Center for Training and Innovation, this session marked the third module of the program’s five-part strategic training series, designed specifically for program Innovators.
The training focused on key legal and regulatory requirements for starting and sustaining a business in the CNMI, including business structures, compliance, contracts, and risk management — areas that play a critical role in long-term business success.
Facilitated by Joseph Hallahan, attorney at Hallahan Law, LLC, the session provided practical guidance on how legal considerations — such as ownership, authority, and proper documentation — impact day-to-day operations and overall business stability.
Through collaborative legal scenario discussions, Innovators worked in groups to analyze real-world situations and identify appropriate solutions, strengthening their ability to recognize and navigate common legal challenges.
“Understanding the legal side of a business is critical to protecting what our Innovators are building,” said Cherese Palacios, program manager. “With a strong legal foundation, many common challenges can be prevented. This training helps entrepreneurs identify risks early, maintain compliance, and make confident, well-informed decisions as they grow.”
“This training helped me better understand how important it is to plan ahead and have the right legal protections in place,” said Sakurako Halstead, founder of SakuBloom. “It gave me a clearer understanding of the risks involved and how to structure my business more thoughtfully moving forward.”
Through its business strategic training series, the CNMI Innovation Incubator equips Innovators with practical tools to sustain and scale their ventures. The next session, focused on market expansion, will take place in May.
For more information about the incubator, contact [email protected]/. Follow @cnmisbdc on Instagram and the CNMI Small Business Development Center Network on Facebook for updates.
