Small Biz on Tinian Buzzing as Military Construction Hits High Gear

Tinian, CNMI - There’s an air of optimism on Tinian as the island receives a much-needed economic boost from the ongoing military buildup, clearly evident in the surge of earthmoving, construction, and heavy equipment activity across the island.

The U.S. is investing approximately $2.5 billion—combining military and federal funds—to bolster the region’s defense posture amid tensions with the People’s Republic of China in the Pacific. On Tinian, this includes the rehabilitation of the World War II-era North Field and upgrades to the island’s airport and seaport facilities.

JC Café reports that the military buildup has driven a 50% increase in daily sales for the restaurant, which specializes in Western and Filipino cuisine.

“So far, so good. Business is mostly driven by Department of Defense projects. We’ve grown by around 50%,” said JC Café general manager Marie Rose “Lot” Bunao.

Bunao said staff from Black Micro—a Guam-based construction company awarded a contract worth over $220 million for projects including a cargo pad, taxiway extension, fuel tanks, roads, and maintenance facilities—are among their most frequent customers, with 200-300 personnel currently stationed on the island.

Thanks to major contractors like Black Micro and Irving, Texas-based Fluor Corp., which secured a separate $400 million-plus U.S. Air Force contract, JC Café is expanding by adding a new kitchen.

“We’re adding more stations so we can meet the call time for orders,” Bunao explained.

She emphasized that the military projects couldn’t have come at a better time for Tinian, given that the CNMI’s tourism industry has yet to fully recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, which devastated the islands’ main economic driver.

“We’re happy with the military projects because if Saipan’s tourism economy falters, Tinian would feel it even more—maybe three times worse,” she said.

JC Café catered the recent public hearing for the Revised Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the CNMI Joint Military Training at the Tinian Junior/Senior High School cafeteria.

Just down the road, Bar-K Diner, attached to Western Lodge, is usually packed with military personnel every evening, drawn by its eclectic menu of Western, Filipino, Italian, and Chamorro dishes.

Khan’s Pizza House in San Jose is also thriving, with both locals and military personnel flocking for pizzas. Supervisor Mahfuzur Aman Khan reported 20-30 pizza orders daily, mostly for takeout, with their burgers also proving popular.

Meanwhile, Sunshine Restaurant—a newcomer that opened last June 3—has yet to see a major surge in business, with their best turnout filling only half of the restaurant’s 40-seat capacity despite serving Filipino, Chinese, and Japanese dishes.

However, challenges persist. Entrepreneur Edwin Sta. Theresa revealed he had to close two businesses over the past couple of years due to labor shortages.

“My baker ran away and chose to work illegally in construction for better pay. My beautician married a local and opened their own salon. I tried to find replacements, but U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services isn’t processing Temporary Labor Certifications. Agencies couldn’t supply workers either. So, I decided to wait, but there’s no hope,” he told Marianas Press.

Sta. Theresa, an X-ray specialist at the Tinian Health Center, shuttered his Coffee and Bread café on May 15, 2022, and Cuts and Nails Beauty Parlor on Aug. 3, 2023.

He stressed that Tinian urgently needs more workers to support the military buildup and called on CNMI Delegate Kimberlyn King-Hinds to push for an extension of the CNMI-Only Transitional Worker Program and simplify hiring for needed nonresident employees.