SBA Micro Loan Makes Television Show a Reality

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

07 March 2007
Tamarah Barao
508-822-1020

With a $35,000 SBA micro loan obtained in 2004, the creators of the New England show “Port O’ Call,” started their creative venture and made the show a reality.

Steven Wyman and Tina Marie Giambro, owners of Port O’ Call Productions, Inc., said “We are grateful this program exists. It fit our needs and allowed us to take those first few baby steps without biting off more than we could chew. The support and technical assistance we received are just as much a comfort and help as the funding itself and it continues today; three years later.”

“Port O' Call” airs weekly on NESN, Comcast New York and Comcast Pennsylvania. The weekly show features the Meridian 459 Motoryacht and its voyage from the Dale Yacht Basin East Marina in Point Pleasant, New Jersey to Grand Cove Marina in Edgewater, New Jersey. While under way with Captain Bernie Reeder, viewers will get a demonstration of the latest navigation technology as well as pick up tips on how to prep their boat for a voyage.

Steven Wyman and Tina Marie Giambro have brought the experience of boating and the lifestyle associated with it to life with their television program “Port O’Call”. The idea for the program came from both Steven and Tina, who envisioned capturing the imagination of boating families, fishermen and captains alike.

The innovative program covers every aspect of boating in the Northeast as they journey to new and exciting destinations each week. The show includes tips on the boating lifestyle: new points of interest, angling information, restaurants, where to shop, tour and explore, and much more. Port O’ Call is in its third successful year of production and currently employs three full-time employees.

The micro loan came from South Eastern Economic Development (SEED) Corporation, an SBA Certified Development Company located in Taunton, Massachusetts. SEED Corporation is focused on financing all types of small businesses in an effort to spur job creation and economic development in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
The SBA Microloan Program provides short-term loans up to $35,000 for working capital, leasehold improvements, furniture and fixtures, and machinery and equipment.

Today, Steve is an active member of the Massachusetts Marine Trades Association, participating on their Education, Safety & Public Affairs Committee. He also works with the Cape Cod Marine Trades Association.

Tina serves as a Director of the Massachusetts Marine Trades Association and Chairman for the Greater Boston Region. She also serves the MMTA as a Vice President, Trustee of the Massachusetts Marine Trades Educational Trust and Clerk for Boat Shows, Inc.

For more information on “Port O’ Call”, please visit their Web site at www.portocalltv.com, and for more information on SEED and its programs, please call the SEED office at 508-822-1020 or visit SEED’s Web site at www.seedcorp.com.

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