There has been a big increase in the number of business licenses issued for business operations based in the Manu’a island group and this coincides with the Lolo Administration’s two-fold push to develop the island group and boost the territory’s economy.

Commerce Department’s fiscal year 2014, second quarter performance report shows that the highest number of new business licenses in Manu’a issued for calendar year (CY) 2014 is for the ‘retail & beer vendor’ category, with 43 licenses thus far compared to a total of 21 in CY 2013.

Based on the DOC Business License Database, the report says that in CY 2013 Manu’a was issued and approved 39-registered business licenses, while for CY 2014 — as of Apr. 14, 2014 — 87 registered business licenses were issued and approved, or a significant increase of 123%.

A breakdown of Manu’a business activities for 2013 shows that of the total ‘retail & beer vendors’, there are 13 licenses issued to ‘retail store & beer vendor’ businesses; six considered retail store only and two for beer vendor only.

But in CY 2014, there are 24 businesses considered ‘retail store & beer vendor’; 15 for retail store only and four as beer vendor only.

The report also shows that in CY 2013 there were only two business licenses issued for rental homes/accommodations, but in CY 2014, the total stands at 16. Other types of businesses issued licenses in CY 2014 (thus far) are three ‘snack bar’ operations; three bakeries; three fast food places; and two licenses each for farming, carpentry services, and video shops.

Additionally, one business license each has been issued for a restaurant; a seafood processing operation; gas station; coffee shop, and ‘home-delivery-snacks’. (The report doesn’t say on which islands in Manu'a these businesses are located.)

According to DOC, the increase in business licenses indicate that the administration’s financing tools are assisting “Manu’a residents to return to the islands and will significantly increase the potential workforce and economic activities to kick-start and sustain” the island group’s economy.

DOC believes that improvement of Manu’a wharves will encourage frequency of ocean transportation for trade and commerce; shipment of goods and construction materials; transport of DOE school lunch program supplies; essential medical equipment and medicine for Manu’a clinics’ and transportation for American Samoa Power Authority, American Samoa TeleCommunications Authority and Public Works supplies for public infrastructure and related services.

DOC said it is gathering and collecting data for relevant studies to support ASG’s position to be submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer for funding for the Faleasao Harbor regeneration and upgrading.

(The administration had also mentioned last year about working to improve the Ofu wharf, which serves the islands of Ofu and Olosega.)

OVERALL BUSINESS LICENSES TERRITORY-WIDE

The performance report also states that as of Mar. 31, 2014, a total of 3,902 business licenses were registered at Treasury’s Revenue Branch and thus indicates a significant increase of 14.25% compared to the FY 2014’s first quarter of 3,416 business licenses. (First quarter is from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 2013).

The report also states that as of Mar. 31, 2014, 350 new business license applications were processed and approved. It also provides data on the top 15 new business license applications, and topping the list is farming, with 61 applications.