This past Saturday, Governor Arnold Palacios (left) and Lt. Governor David Apatang (right) welcomed Admiral Samuel Paparo (center), who was recently appointed as Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) in May 2024. During the meeting the Commander reaffirmed regional commitments and discussed other collaborative efforts with the CNMI. Governor Palacios and Lt. Governor Apatang also led the Admiral and his team on a brief tour around Saipan. They were joined by Admiral Brent DeVore, Commander of Joint Region Marianas; Admiral Gregory Huffman, Commander of Joint Task Force Micronesia; and other military leaders.

The Commonwealth Economic Development Authority (CEDA) is pleased to announce the approval of up to $57 million from the U.S. Treasury under the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) 2.0 for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The funding will support loan guarantees, loan participation, and collateral support programs.