Guam

Government Support for the Establishment of a Farmers’ Cooperative Association of To maximize the opportunities for success of the Association, I Liheslaturan Guåhan directs the Association to seek the technical expertise available in our local community as part of the authorization to lease, and designates the University of Guam’s College of Natural and Applied Sciences as the lead government entity in identifying the necessary support for the establishment of the Association, which will be directed and administered by the island’s local farmers. The University of Guam’s College of Natural and Applied Sciences may assist the facilitation of meetings and dialog among all pertinent government entities that will support the successful establishment and long-term operation of the Association that will concentrate on the marketing of local agricultural products and in the provision of other necessary services to our island farmers.

(a)The Association shall seek support from the College of Natural and Applied Sciences

(CNAS)of the University of Guam for the following services:

(1)render professional and technical advice in ways to enhance farming activities on Guam;

(2)provide periodic and current information on its research activities which it deems may be beneficial to the Association;

(3)share any information that may assist the Association in its operation and marketing activities;

(4)marketing expertise and guidance;

(5)advice on enhanced business practices, and ways to identify and capitalize on existing and potential agricultural markets, both local and off-island; and

(6)other services it provides that may be beneficial to the Association.

(b)The Association, through a Memorandum of Understanding, shall seek support from the School of Business and Public Administration (SBPA), more specifically, the Small Business Development Center

(SBDC)of the University of Guam, for business counseling and training to the Association’s members. All efforts shall be coordinated by the College of Natural and Applied Sciences so as not to duplicate the University of Guam’s services.

(c)The Association shall seek support from the Department of Agriculture for the following services:

(1)professional and technical expertise and advice to the Association in its farming activities;

(2)conduct periodic assessments of the market demands and conditions for certain agricultural products and share such information with the Association and its members;

(3)provide logistical support, to include, but not limited to, farming equipment and related services, if available, to the Association and its members;

(4)make accessible and available its farmers loan program to the Association and its members, in conformance with established guidelines and requirements; CH. 68 USE AND DEVELOPMENT OF GOVERNMENT AND OTHER LAND

(5)provide business, marketing and distribution expertise to the Association; and

(6)other services it provides that may be beneficial to the Association.

(d)The Association shall seek support from the Guam Economic Development Authority for the following services:

(1)direct application and use of the Authority’s Qualifying Certificate Program, in accordance with established program rules and guidelines;

(2)assistance with appropriate agency business and agricultural loan programs; and

(3)other services it provides that may be beneficial to the Association. These entities shall provide such services and general assistance to the Association as a Guam non-profit organization. This assistance will promote the successful establishment of the Association for the benefit of our local farmers and the growth of the island’s traditional industry. For services and support beyond this, the Association is encouraged to work with the entities (UOG’s CNAS, SBPA and SBDC, and the Guam Department of Agriculture) to apply for grants to fund these efforts or hire needed expertise beyond the resources currently available. Nothing herein shall limit the rights of the Association from seeking assistance and technical expertise from any other organizations in the furtherance of it goals and objectives.