Forum on military contracts is today
By Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writer
Hawai'i small businesses need to know accounting, payroll, insurance and a host of other necessary procedures if they hope to get a piece of $2.2 billion worth of military housing construction money on O'ahu, according to the organizers of a forum today to help businesses qualify.
When: 3 to 5 p.m. today Where: State Capitol auditorium Cost: Free Information: Kathy Perkins, 545-4300, ext. 313.
The free forum is expected to be attended by state legislators and three Mainland firms bidding to become the primary contractors to build or renovate 16,756 homes for all branches of the military over the next 14 years. But the forum is aimed at small businesses that need to learn about medical and safety procedures, accounting programs, certified payroll requirements, training practices and other issues.
Housing projects forum
The military's new philosophy calls for private developers to build, maintain and manage its homes for 50 years. On the Mainland, 75 percent to 90 percent of the work goes to local and small businesses that qualify.
"It would be a tragedy if we are not able to keep this work in Hawai'i," said Gregg Yamanaka, outgoing chairman of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawai'i's small business council.
Austin Nakoa, president of Nakoa Companies Inc., regularly works on millions of dollars worth of military projects and said the biggest difference is the amount of paperwork.
"The military has a paperwork-intensive style of management," he said.
