by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - Nearly 200 members of the contracting and engineering industries showed up the Consolidated Commission on Utilities' symposium on the future of GovGuam projects prior to the military buildup on Guam.

Guam Contractors Association president James Martinez says it was welcoming news for those in attendance to hear from the local government agencies about projects that can be expected over the next couple of years due to the uncertainty and holdup of the military buildup. He said, "The good news is a lot of these projects have been appropriated for and there's money in the bank for these projects at least for the most part, and $500 million is a huge chunk of change that would definitely help the economy once it gets infused and once these projects begin."

Martinez adds feedback from those in attendance will start more symposiums in the future including ones on private sector, hotel or recreational development and possibility another industry forum that was originally held before talk of the buildup first came about.