Social services are the foundation of PGC involvement in the community. These programs provide case management services, counseling, job placement, and training to newly arrived immigrants, naturalized immigrants, and immigrant youth. Additionally, as part of the social service area, PGC offers interpretation and translation services in 33 different languages. Social Services Projects include:

Hawaii Language Bank
Immigration Services
Refugee Resettlement & Matching Grant
Food bank

The employment and training component is based on the activity of the target population served (U.S. citizens, Asian and Pacific Islander born,  etc.). Services offered in this area include English as a Second Language classes, basic computer and job preparation classes, computer repair classes, internet classes, advanced computer classes, and outside vocational trainings.

PGC economic development areas include a technical assistance and training component as well as lending programs. PGC offers lending services funded by U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and USDA to low-income residents who want to start up or expand their businesses. In the technical assistance area, PGC provides business skills training, advanced computer classes, commercial kitchen usage training, and one-on-one business consulting. Economic Development Projects include:

USDA Homeownership – Kauai
RED Manini Microloan Program
Feed the Hungry Foundation Loans

Another project of PGC is the Retail Incubator, which provides space and marketing services for clients of PGC. The majority of the clients will be related to the Culinary Business Incubator and therefore, a café is part of the marketing program. On the second floor, the Retail Incubator will provide services for retail entrepreneurs such as computer services, packaging, and accounting.

 PGC has been a catering service for such events as weddings, meetings, and funerals. Using existing facilities and staff, this service provides recent immigrants with jobs and supports clients by buying food products from them and providing informal advertising and contacts for client products. The income generated by the catering service directly supports the social services and program operations of PGC and is integral to the company’s overall strategy of engaging in social entrepreneurship.

Affordable Housing Initiative is our first project to address the growing need of the low-income residents of Hawaii. Our project uses the models found in New York City and Chicago. It is open to low-income residents with a rent control lease. Because the tenants pay utilities, they are motivated to be economical in energy use. PGC provides case management on an as-needed basis.

The Pacific Gateway Center serves over 5,000 clients per year. In addition to the clients served in the following Program Report, PGC’s main office serves well over 1,000 walk-in clients who receive general information, and a variety of services including ID photographs, translation, notary, emergency food and rent, and casual labor work. PGC also provides services to over 1,000 clients through its 5 festivals, and to approximately 350 clients through financial literacy, business and computer training.