Frank Crisostomo Kaaihue, director of the Guam Veterans Business Outreach Center, said veterans may have overlooked these two opportunities which are really needed.
“What would happen if a couple of battalions of Marines needed bottled water while on training maneuvers on Tinian? They don’t have to get bottled water supplies from anywhere if we can supply it here,” Kaaihue said.
He said in the Middle East, the bottled water labels the Marines are using are in Arabic — which means the water was bottled locally and supplied to the forces there.
Kaaihue said there are three bottled water suppliers on Guam and two on Saipan, but none are veteran-owned. Across American, there are 415 suppliers of bottled-water. Of this number, 75 are veteran-owned, 38 are service-disabled veteran owned, 106 are women-owned, nine are minority-owned or owned by Alaskan Natives, Hawaiian natives and other native Americans, while 12 are HUBZone-certified. He said none are on Guam or the CNMI.
Growing local food crops is an industry that veterans can also venture into.
“If the Marines will come here, they will need to cook and eat and need plenty of crops, such as tomatoes. Again, they don’t have to get it from somewhere else if we can supply it here,” Kaaihue said.
He said there are no food crops grown on Guam and Saipan that are being supplied to the troops.
Across America, there are 83 suppliers of food crops, 24 of which are veteran-owned. 10 are service-disabled veteran owned, 24 are women-owned, 30 are owned by minority tribes, and one is HUBZone certified.
“If we look at these figures, there is a demand but there is no supplier on Guam or Saipan. This is an opportunity that we can grab,” Kaaihue said.
He said age does not make a difference in starting a business.
“Age should never be considered a hindrance for one to engage in and succeed in any business,” he said.
To get more information about procurement opportunities, contact the Guam Veterans Business Outreach Center at 671-475-4900, fax number 671-475-4901, visit www.guamvboc.com or email [email protected].
