CNMI seeks to leverage military build-up to bolster economy

After over a year in office, NMI Governor Arnold Palacios and Lt. Gov. David Apatang convened their cabinet, lawmakers, and community leaders for an economic development summit.

Governor Palacios said, “You know it is easy for the lieutenant governor and I to lament…the situations that we found ourselves in…But after one year, of stabilizing the fiscal situation in our government and public services, we decided that it is time to move on. Let those that are in charge to looking at whatever happened that contributed to the fiscal challenges that we are in, look into it, that is their role.”

The summit was led by Matrix, a national consulting firm, which is being funded by a federal grant to be professional advisors to Palacios.

They said their focus in the CNMI is to leverage the DOD build-up to grow the economy.

“It is the opportunity to leverage…this opportunity because I promise you it is not going to be here, to be able to be leveraged, forever,” said Matrix’s Executive Vice President of Strategic Development Celeste Boccieri-Werner. 

At the end of the day-long summit, they hope to create a roadmap for economic development.