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Advice is twice as nice at business center

Business owners who would like assistance from both state and federal business specialists at one time can visit the state Business Action Center at 1130 Nimitz Highway from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. next Wednesday and on April 4, 13, 18 and 27.

That's when a a business development specialist from the U.S. Small Business Administration will be on hand to provide information about the latest programs and opportunities available through the federal agency.

The state Business Action Center, operated by the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, already bills itself as the state's "one-stop shop for business registration, licensing and tax applications," and has worked before with the federal agency on various programs, workshops and conferences.

It is not necessary to make an appointment to visit the state center. For more information, call 541-2990 or e-mail bac@dbedt.hawaii.gov.

Big names among initial tenants

Two nationally known restaurants and several locally owned businesses are among the first group of tenants announced for Outrigger's $460 million Waikiki Beach Walk redevelopment.

Fusion chef Roy Yamaguchi will place his seventh Hawaii restaurant at the corner of Lewers Street and Kalia Road, offering indoor and outdoor seating.

Hawaii restaurant owner and franchisee Scott Rolles also will open Hawaii's third Wolfgang Puck Express, an outdoor eatery, at the corner of Don Ho Lane and Lewers.

Several well-known island retailers also have signed leases with Outrigger, including Whaler's General Store, ABC Stores, Maui Divers, TT&K Hawaiian Shirts, Malibu Shirts and Freaky Tiki Tropical Optical.

Construction on Outrigger's project is expected to commence by mid-April with completion anticipated in late 2006.

Fannie Mae narrows CEO search

Fannie Mae, the largest buyer of U.S. mortgages, is considering hiring former New York Federal Reserve President William McDonough as chief executive, said people familiar with the company's plans.

The government-chartered mortgage finance company has also talked to William Shea, the former chief executive of insurer Conseco Inc., and Phil Gramm, a former Republican senator from Texas, about taking the top post, one of the people said.

Fannie Mae has been searching for a chief executive since ousting Franklin Raines in December after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission found the Washington-based company broke accounting rules. Concerns that Congress will take steps to rein in growth have prompted shares to plunge 23 percent this year, wiping out almost $15 billion in market capitalization.