Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 3, Number 12, 1 December 1986 — Na ʻOiwi o Oahu Establishes PBRI [ARTICLE]

Na ʻOiwi o Oahu Establishes PBRI

A nonprofit small business consulting, training and resource center called Pacific Business and Resource Institute (PBRI) has been established as a separate division of Na 'Oiwi o O'ahu ine. In making the announcement, Board President Leimomi Ho explained that the PBRI will provide business development, management consulting and training services to the small business community in Hawaii and the emerging businesses of the Pacific islands.

Mrs. Ho added that since the institute is a nonprofit organization, it will provide these services at a cost comparable to federally subsidized programs. The institute shall be financially self-sustaining and will operate without relying on any grant funding. Revenues are generated through workshop and seminar fees, client fees for specialized consulting and its pre-paid membership plan whieh is the institute's version of a "health maintenance program" for businesses. It is designed to maintain the health of a business by providing diagnostic and consulting services to a business to detect and correct problems before they become a crisis.

The plan provides members with four hours of prepaid consulting time per month for a total of 48 hours per year. Members and their employees also receive substantial discounts on all institute training programs and publications. PBRI consists of two centers — the Business Consulting and Training Center and the Government Contracts and Grants Center. The former provides business, financial development and management services to potential entrepreneurs and established small businesses, i.e. business plan development, loan packaging, marketingassistance, etc. It also conducts a variety of on-going educational and training programs designed to meet the needs of entrepreneurs and smal! businesses.

The Government Contracts and Grants Center provides expert assistance to businesses whieh have, or wish to obtain, government contracts or grants. Services of the GCGC include review and analysis of government solicitations/program announeements, assistance in preparing bids and proposals, representation of clients before the appropriate government agencies, assistance in obtaining Small Business Administration 8a certification, development of contract and grant administration procedures to ensure eomplianee with award documents and disputes resolution. In addition to targeted small business groups, the institute offers similar services and training to the many nonprofit organizations throughout the Pacific. Nonprofits will benefit from the many tailored workshops/seminars, consulting services and the prepaid membership plan offered by the institute.

Hal Doster, a government contracts attorney and business management consultant for over 15 years, is the institute director. Doster, who has served in Hawaii the past six years, states that the institute was eonceived to provide a "full service" business development and training center for Hawaii and the Pacific region. Na 'Oiwi o O'ahu Ine. is a 501 C (3) nonprofit organization whose goal is to improve the quality of life of the people of Hawaii and the Pacific through a variety of creative and innovative programs. To date the organization has concentrated its efforts in the area of business and eeonomie development. To leam more about this new program, write or eall Doster at 524 Cooke St., Honolulu, Hawaii 96813, telephone 523-6777.