For more information on becoming an SBA TA Provider and attend the free training session, call Mary Dale at 541-2990, ext. 211, or send e-mail to mary.dale@sba.gov to reserve a space. Outdoor feast kicks off brewers fest ADVERTISING A beer
Outdoor feast kicks off brewers fest
A beer and food pairing dinner “Grilling Under the Stars — A Brewer’s Paina” is being produced by and held at the Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort March 8 from 5 to 9 p.m. The dinner will feature “Grilling with Beer” cookbook author Lucy Saunders and set the stage for the 12th annual Kona Brewers Festival to be held two days later, March 10.
The outdoor feast will be served at tasting stations featuring salads and savories, flavors from the grill and desserts. The ethnically diverse menu will feature beer as its commonality — each dish utilizes beer as an ingredient or pairs exceptionally well with beer. The cornucopia of delicacies includes mussels, calamari and shrimp salad; porter ginger salmon skewers; mini buffalo beef burgers with dijon mustard onion beer relish; stout chocolate cake with red ale caramel sauce and more.
Saunders, Outrigger director of food and beverage Daryll Hersche and Kona Brewing Co.’s vice president of brewery operations Rich Tucciarone will provide commentary during the evening of beer-and-food pairing. Saunders’ new “Grilling with Beer” cookbook will be available for purchase, and she will be autographing copies.
Tickets to “Grilling Under the Stars — A Brewer’s Paina” are $45 and available at the Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort catering office or by calling 325-2554.
The Kona Brewers Festival, presented by The Gas Co. and First Hawaiian Bank, is a community fundraising event made possible by the Bill Healy Foundation that promotes the craft brewery revolution in Hawaii and encourages professional brewers and chefs to work together. The event raises funds for environmental, educational and cultural organizations.
For more information, visit www.konabrewersfestival.com or call 331-3033.
Horse book author signing books on Saturday
Lisa Dines, author of “Why Do Horses do That?,” “Horse Tails & Trails” and “The American Mustang Guidebook” will sign books and talk about horses at Kona Stories on Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m.
Kona Stories is at 79-7460 Mamalahoa Hwy. in Mango Court, Kainaliu. For more information, call 324-0350.
Landscape maintenance course begins March 7
The Hawaii Island Landscape Association, in partnership with Hawaii Community College Office of Continuing Education and Training, is offering a 10-week course of landscape maintenance training classes.
Topics include botany, plant and weed identification, establishing a landscape, insect and disease diagnosis, math for landscapers, pruning, turf care, maintenance of equipment and irrigation basics. University of Hawaii staff and professionals from the landscape industry will be teaching the 10 classes in this year’s Landscape Maintenance Training series.
Classes are from 2 to 5 p.m. every Wednesday beginning March 7 through May 9 at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel. Tuition for the entire LMT series is $350. Individual classes are $40 each. Employer tuition assistance may be available up until Tuesday.
Registration for classes is required; the registration deadline with Hawaii Community College is March 2. Phone the Office of Continuing Education and Training at 974-7531 for more information and to register.
For more information on the series, class content and instructors, call Ty McDonald, UH College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Cooperative Extension Service, 322-4892.
SBA seeks technical assistance providers
Research indicates that lack of adequate capital and the lack of business management skills are the top reasons that small businesses may fail. Based on this information, the U.S. Small Business Administration developed a loan program that pairs financing with technical assistance for new and growing small businesses. Given the demand for financing and business assistance among these small start ups and expanding firms, SBA now needs new resource partners across the state.
SBA is now recruiting additional technical assistance providers to assist with service delivery across Hawaii County. The federal agency will conduct an information and training session in Kailua-Kona on Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union, 73-Olowahu St.
In the Community Express Loan Program, technical assistance providers work directly with prospective borrowers to review loan requests, the use of proceeds and prepare the financing package. They also help the client evaluate their operations and skills. Participating banks, both local and U.S. mainland, do offer some compensation for approved loans.
To qualify as a technical assistance provider, individuals or organizations must have experience in the provision of business development and technical assistance to small businesses. This experience could include the preparation of business plans, financial projections, market analysis, market research and other related business services.
For more information on becoming an SBA TA Provider and attend the free training session, call Mary Dale at 541-2990, ext. 211, or send e-mail to mary.dale@sba.gov to reserve a space.
