Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 15 JA N UA R Y 2 5 , 2 0 1 6 He was 10 1/2 and he had to work under the table to made most of the money for the family. When they came to the United States as refu- gees, they fi rst went to Mobile, Ala., where they were resettled by Catholic Charities and stayed for two years before coming to Maine, drawn by an acquaintance here. To raise money for the move, her two brothers installed insulation in Mobile. "When I came, I could understand English 90%, but my ability to talk was about 60%," Rikan told Mainebiz over a lunch table fi lled with dishes of hum- mus, samboosa, falafel, lentils and rice soup and other Iraqi food. "I liked to listen rather than talk. But I real- ized I could not survive if I didn't start to speak." Tae Chong, a business counselor at CEI's StartSmart business development program for immigrants and refugees, says Rikan and her family demonstrate the resilience that immigrants need to start a new life. " ey're not here to be on the dole. ey've spent the last 11 years trying to fi nd a way to survive," says Chong, whose family immigrated to America from South Korea when he was in fi rst grade. "And given the circumstances, they're going to thrive. I think this restaurant is an example of that." He says that over the last fi ve or six years, most of the new business startups in CEI's directory are Muslim, and they are in Portland, Westbrook, Lewiston and Biddeford. Adds Rikan, "When we came to the United States, we were assigned to Catholic Charities and a case worker worked with us until we rented a house, found furniture, did all the paperwork and got a Social Security number. ey met us at the airport." Once they were resettled, they repaid their plane tickets. "People think it's a free handout, but it's not," says Chong, adding that Catholic Charities may initially subsidize housing, but as soon as an immi- grant gets a job they have to pay back the money. Rikan is more enterprising than some other immigrants, says Chong, as she quickly tapped into Portland Adult Education, CEI, SCORE and Southern Maine Community College, which all aid or educate New Mainers. "She is the exception," says Chong. "When she wants something she'll go after it. You can tell she's fearless. Not everyone is like that. at's what makes her restaurant stand out." Refugees are diff erent than asylum seekers in both their status in the United States and why they have entered the country. Asylum seekers leave their country of origin based on a fear of persecution. ey are not immediately residents and must apply for asylum. Refugees typically already have a suc- cessful application and can work immediately. ey may be fl eeing civil war, for example. Chong says Rikan was his fi rst client at CEI. "We helped with everything," he says. "I helped negotiate the lease and took them to the bank to open a savings and checking account." Rikan says her family did not take out a loan. CEI does, however, grant loans. Chong says one of the rea- sons a lot of Muslim refugees and immigrants come to CEI is because it has a Sharia-compliant loan, meaning it's a fee-based loan with no interest. C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » AUDIT | TAX | VALUATION | CONSULTING How do our valuation and forensic experts size up the numbers, economics, data, and other factors that shape the value of your business or personal assets? Smoothly. Know where you stand, with seasoned advisors who give you a firm edge. GAIN CLARITY. LEARN MORE. 800.432.7202. berrydunn.com.

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