SAIPAN — A Valentine-themed pop-up market on Beach Road brought a steady flow of shoppers and families to the Beach Road Plaza parking lot on Saturday, February 7, as the CNMI Innovation Incubator staged its Love Local event to put locally made products and early-stage entrepreneurs front and center.
The market doubled as a public showcase for participants from the Innovation Incubator’s first cohort and for other small businesses connected to the CNMI Small Business Development Center, with vendors selling everything from Valentine gifts and handmade items to baked treats and specialty products. Organizers said the setup gave vendors a chance to test products in a real market setting, meet customers face-to-face, and build visibility beyond their usual circles.
Beyond the booths, the event leaned into a community-night atmosphere with entertainment, activities for families, and prize giveaways. One of the focal points was an encouragement wall where attendees wrote messages to local entrepreneurs, a feature organizers said was meant to reinforce the idea that small business growth depends not only on sales, but on consistent community support.
Cherese Palacios, program manager for the CNMI Innovation Incubator, said the event was designed to help entrepreneurs gain momentum by connecting directly with new customers. She said purchases and positive feedback from the public serve as reminders to business owners that their work is valued and that choosing local helps strengthen the Commonwealth’s economy.
The Innovation Incubator said it plans to continue creating similar opportunities that give startups and small businesses real-world experience while building the CNMI’s local business ecosystem. The program is funded in part through a grant with the U.S. Small Business Administration, and organizers noted that statements in the release do not necessarily reflect the SBA’s views.
