May 21, 1998

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. ---- FALEOMAVAEGA AND SENATOR INOUYE SPEAK AT SSPA EVENT IN HAWAII

FALEOMAVAEGA ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT HE HAS ACCEPTED AN INVITATION FROM THE SAMOAN SERVICE PROVIDERS ASSOCIATION (SSPA) TO CO-HOST WITH HAWAII SENATOR DANIEL INOUYE, A PROGRAM TO BE HELD IN HONOLULU NEXT WEEK, MARKING THE BEGINNING OF A BUSINESS INCUBATOR PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ASSIST SAMOAN BUSINESSES IN HAWAII.

YEARS AGO, SENATOR INOUYE AND CONGRESSMAN FALEOMAVAEGA WORKED TOGETHER TO AMEND THE FEDERAL LAW GOVERNING THE ADMINISTRATION OF NATIVE AMERICAN PROGRAMS BY ALLOWING ISLAND ORGANIZATIONS TO APPLY FOR GRANTS FROM THE PROGRAM. PRIOR TO THE AMENDMENT, THE AMOUNT THE ENTIRE PACIFIC ISLAND COMMUNITIES COULD APPLY FOR WAS $500,000.

THE AMENDMENT LIFTED THE LIMITATION ON THE AMOUNT PACIFIC ISLAND ORGANIZATIONS COULD APPLY FOR AND ALL APPLICATIONS NOW HAVE TO COMPETE WITH OTHER GRANT PROPOSALS.

ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS, SSPA APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED A GRANT FOR $700,000 FROM THE ADMINISTRATION FOR NATIVE AMERICANS (ANA) TO FUND A SAMOAN BUSINESS INCUBATOR CENTER. ACCORDING TO BILL EMMSLEY, DIRECTOR OF SSPA, THE BUSINESS INCUBATOR CENTER WILL PROVIDE A SUPPORT MECHANISM FOR SAMOAN-OWNED BUSINESSES IN HAWAII -- PARTICULARLY DURING THE START-UP OR EXPANSION PHASE OF THESE SMALL BUSINESSES.

"ONCE AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO SENATOR INOUYE FOR HIS CONTINUOUS EFFORTS TO PROMOTE AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT OUR SAMOAN PEOPLE," SAID FALEOMAVAEGA.

"I ALSO WANT TO COMMEND BILL EMMSLEY FOR HIS INITIATIVE AND OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP OF SSPA PROGRAMS, AND I WANT TO THANK THE HAWAII STATE GOVERNMENT FOR WORKING CLOSELY WITH SSPA AND FOR PROVIDING THE NECESSARY FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO CARRY OUT SSPA'S MANDATE AND ACTIVITIES," CONCLUDED FALEOMAVAEGA.