The U.S. military is having a major build-up on Tinian. Earlier this month, the Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall visited the Marianas to see how the Department of Defense’s hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent. 

KUAM spoke to Tinian Chamber of Commerce President Phillip Mendiola Long on his recent visit to Saipan about the developments.

Phillip Mendiola Long, President of the Tinian Chamber of Commerce said, “There's some concerns with roads, there's some concerns with traffic. And the number one concern that Guam is facing as well as Tinian is facing now is housing. There is a there's a steep inflation curve on Tinian right now that people are facing with where you've seen rental prices triple or quadruple. And that's just because there's no supply for the demand and the demand has a pace to continue to grow.”

 

On Tinian alone,  a divert airfield will be completed by October 2026, the Air Force just awarded a $400M contract to revitalize a crucial WWII-era airfield, and there are plans to repair and improve the harbor.

“There's quite a few job fairs that not only the DOD had actually sponsored, but contractors even like legacy businesses that have recently set foot on Tinian the last few years, " said Tinian Senator Jude Hofschneider. 

Sen. Hofshcneider from Tinian shared what he’s heard from agencies and contractors on the job. 

He added, “It costs about $250,000 in Tinian right now to build a two-bedroom house. That is something that is far-fetched in the last five years.”

The senator shared that there’s another critical piece. 

“Infrastructure-wise, we need to make sure that we address the critical infrastructure, you know, aspect of it,” said Hofshneider