Greetings!

Last week's Primary Election marked an important moment for civic participation here in Guam. Although the voter turnout was not as expected, we will continue our efforts to promote voter education, registration, and voter participation in the General Election in November.

Looking ahead to the General Election, the Chamber is proud to announce our Gubernatorial Forum on October 7th, featuring both gubernatorial teams. In addition, the Guam Young Professionals (GYP) is hard at work planning the YouDecide Senatorial Forums, scheduled for October 1st and October 8th. Together, these events will give our members and the broader community valuable opportunities to hear directly from candidates ahead of the November election. Scroll down to view more information about the GYP senatorial forum and save your seat.

On the legislative front, we continue to closely track the FY2027 budget debate, which carries real implications for our members. We'll keep you updated as these conversations develop.

Hope this weekend is a great one for you!

Onward together,

Catherine Castro

President

Guam Young Professional: 'You Decide' Senatorial Forum Series & Mixer

Join The Guam Young Professionals for their Senatorial Forum Series & Mixer event on Thursday, October 1st and October 8th held at the Guam Chamber of Commerce. Take this opportunity to attend and hear directly from the candidates advancing to the General Election.

📅 Thursday October 1st & October 8th

🕣 3:30pm Forum / 5:30pm Mixer

📍 Guam Chamber of Commerce

💵 $20 GYP Members / $40 Future GYP Members

Mark your calendars now and stay tuned for more updates on these exciting events. We look forward to your participation and support!

Guam Chamber's 102nd Anniversary Gala Celebration

Saturday, September 12, 2026 • Dusit Thani Resort Guam

RESERVE YOUR SEAT TODAY!

We invite you to join us for the Guam Chamber of Commerce’s 102nd Anniversary Gala on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at the Dusit Thani Resort Guam. This signature event celebrates over a century of service, leadership, and commitment to Guam’s business community, while honoring member companies reaching significant milestone anniversaries. The evening reflects both our rich legacy and our continued vision for economic growth and partnership.

Guests will enjoy an elevated experience featuring an exclusive VIP reception for anniversary honorees, a curated five-course dinner, and live entertainment. The celebration continues with two unique after-party experiences - one designed to keep the energy high on the dance floor, and another offering a more relaxed atmosphere with whiskey tastings, coffee, and karaoke - each complemented by specialty food and beverage selections.

This year’s gala also coincides with the commemoration of America’s 250th Anniversary, adding a meaningful dimension to an evening centered on history, progress, and community spirit.



Table registrations and sponsorship opportunities remain available. We encourage interested members and partners to contact the Chamber team for more information and to secure their participation in this premier event.

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS!

American Oxygen Sponsor

First Hawaiian Bank

God Bless the U.S.A Sponsor

Marianas Energy Company

Party in the USA Sponsor

Bank of Guam

America the Beautiful Sponsor

Vantage Advertising

Living in America Sponsor

Ada's Trust & Investment, Inc.

American Honey Sponsor

P.H.R. Ken Micronesia, Inc. dba: Ken Corporation

Made in America Sponsor

Coast360 Federal Credit Union

Bank of Hawaii

Federal Express

Sanford Technology Group LLC

South Pacific Petroleum Corporation

Twenty-Fourth Annual Salute to the U.S. Armed Forces in Guam

Thursday, September 17, 2026

The Fight for Free Enterprise Is Playing Out in Your Backyard

There is a growing anti-free enterprise movement, and it is showing up in local races across the country. U.S. Chamber President and CEO Suzanne Clark says the stakes could not be higher.

‌

Why it matters: Redistribution, government control, and protectionism result in scarcity, not abundance. Businesses face more red tape. Workers see fewer opportunities. Families pay more for less.

‌

Big picture: Free enterprise is the belief that when people are free to compete, innovate, and take risks, communities grow, wages rise, and opportunity expands. That idea is now being tested.

‌

What they said: "The thing about veering off course is frequently not just a sharp turn - it could be a series of small steps in the wrong direction,” Clark said. “We've got to choose to stay on this path of growth and opportunity."

‌

Free enterprise isn't perfect - but it is the system best equipped to solve today's challenges and create tomorrow's opportunities. “It's the best at getting better. It's the system that enables businesses to respond to people, to respond to problems,” Clark added. READ MORE

U.S. Chamber Launches Advisory Council to Boost Housing Supply

The U.S. Chamber is bringing together the companies that build, finance, and supply housing to increase supply and address affordability as part of a new Housing Advisory Council.

‌

Why it matters: America is short 4.7 million homes, and people across the country are experiencing skyrocketing prices and reduced workforce mobility. More housing means more opportunity.

‌

• "When housing supply doesn't keep up with demand, it becomes a real constraint on workers, businesses, and growth," said Neil Bradley, U.S. Chamber Executive Vice President.

Big picture: Building on the now enacted 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act—one of the most significant federal housing packages in decades—the Council will bring deep industry expertise to local, state, and federal efforts and help turn policy momentum into practical market-driven solutions that strengthen local economies and expand opportunity across America.

‌

Details: JPMorganChase chairs the Council, with Citi, James Hardie, and UMH Properties as members. Together they span finance, construction, and housing supply chains.

‌

What they said: "Together with members of the Council and in collaboration with public and private stakeholders, we will identify and advance solutions that increase housing supply and support homeownership to help more families access the American Dream,” said Michelle Herrick, Head of Commercial Real Estate at JPMorganChase.

‌

What's next: The Housing Advisory Council will publish policy recommendations, engage state and local officials, and track progress in priority markets, using the U.S. Chamber's network of 1,500+ state and local chambers to identify barriers and scale what works.

‌

• And: The U.S. Chamber will host the 2026 Housing Summit: Building for Growth on September 14. Business leaders, policymakers, regulators, and nonprofit officials will discuss solutions to increase housing supply and strengthen economic opportunity.

Opportunity Zones 2.0 Workshop:

Building the Toolkit for Guam & CNMI

Join the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) virtual Opportunity Zones (OZ) 2.0 Workshop. Learn how to prepare your community to fully access this financing tool to attract investments in revitalization, economic development, and housing projects.

Opportunity Zones are economically distressed communities, defined by individual census tracts, nominated by America's Governors, and certified by the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury via their delegation of authority to the Internal Revenue Service. Under certain conditions, new investments in Opportunity Zones may be eligible for preferential tax incentives. Any taxpayer with a capital gain - individuals, corporations, institutions - can invest in a designated census tract and receive preferential tax treatment without applying for federal approval. 

The initial designation of Opportunity Zones census tracts and related tax benefits is known as "OZ 1.0" from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The new, permanent Opportunity Zones tax incentive program is known as "OZ 2.0" providing more certainty for communities and investors. Opportunity Zones 2.0 starts on January 1, 2027 with new zones designated. 

The Opportunity Zones initiative is not a top-down government program from Washington, D.C. but an incentive to spur private and public investment in America's under invested communities. 

View the flyer for more information.

You may reach out to marie.reyes@investguam.com for any questions.

Please pre-register at https://events.intellor.com?do=register&t=7&p=514189. 

Clear the Shelters Returns This August: GAIN Aims for 100 Adoptions and Launches First-Ever Pop-Up Adoption Center at GPO

Guam Animals In Need (GAIN) is excited to announce the return of Clear the Shelters, the annual nationwide pet adoption and donation campaign, taking place August 1–31, 2026. In partnership with KUAM, GAIN is setting an ambitious goal of finding loving homes for 100 shelter pets throughout the month.

As part of this year's campaign, GAIN is introducing an exciting new way for the community to meet adoptable pets. Beginning Saturday, August 8, GAIN will open its first-ever off-site adoption center at Guam Premier Outlets (GPO). The pop-up adoption center will be open every Saturday and Sunday in August from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., giving shoppers the opportunity to m Executive Director of Guam Animals In Need. "Clear the Shelters is always a special month for us because it encourages us to find creative and engaging ways to connect our animals with the community. Our hope is that these additional adoption opportunities will help more families meet their perfect companion and create many happily-ever-afters."

Throughout the month of August, adoption fees will be reduced as part of the Clear the Shelters campaign:

• All puppies, kittens, dogs, and cats: $100 (regularly $125)
• Pets 5 years of age and older: $50

Every adoption includes:

• Age-appropriate vaccinations
• Deworming
• Microchip
• Rabies vaccination (when age-appropriate)
• Spay or neuter surgery

Visitors, while meeting puppies and kittens, can also learn about GAIN and how we are helping Guam’s animals, find out how to volunteer or foster, book your pet’s low-cost spay/neuter appointment, and chat with our team and ask all your animal questions!

In addition to visiting the GPO pop-up adoption center, community members are encouraged to stop by the GAIN shelter to meet the many wonderful dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens still waiting for their forever homes. Every adoption creates space for another animal in need and helps GAIN continue its lifesaving work throughout Guam.

Whether you're ready to adopt or simply want to learn more about GAIN's mission, everyone is invited to participate in this year's Clear the Shelters campaign and help give a deserving pet the loving home they deserve.

For more information, to view adoptable pets, or submit an adoption application, visit www.guamanimals.org or follow Guam Animals In Need (GAIN) on Facebook and Instagram.

For questions or general inquiries, please email:

info@guamanimals.org

For media inquiries, please email:

Alison.hadley@guamanimals.org

Run Against Crime Returns for Its 25th Anniversary

Saturday, August 22, 2026

Lace up your running shoes and join the 25th Anniversary Run Against Crime 5K & Youth 2K Run on Saturday, August 22! Hosted by Guam Crime Stoppers in partnership with McDonald's Guam, this annual community event promotes crime prevention, healthy living, and community involvement.

The race will begin and end at the Hagåtña McDonald's, with a 5:00 a.m. showtime, the 5K starting at 6:00 a.m., and the Youth 2K at 6:10 a.m. Pre-registration is open through August 21, with special pricing available for individuals and groups. The first 500 registered participants will receive a complimentary dri-fit event shirt, and the school with the most pre-registered participants will have a chance to win $500, courtesy of Matson.

Don't miss this opportunity to support a safer Guam while staying active with family, friends, and the community!

Scan the QR code to register!

National Heritage Area Community Conversations Virtual Sessions - August 8th & 25th

The Guam Preservation Trust (GPT), in partnership with Guampedia and the University of Guam, invites the community to participate in the Guam National Heritage Area (NHA) Feasibility Study by sharing their thoughts and perspectives on the future of Guam's cultural and historical preservation.

Upcoming Virtual Community Conversations:

• Saturday, August 8 | 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, August 25 | 9:00–11:00 a.m.

Zoom Meeting Details

• Meeting ID: 850 4128 6089
• Passcode: 396305

Join zoom link here.

Junior Achievement Guam Opens Registration for 2026–2027 Company of the Year Program

Junior Achievement Guam Opens Registration for 2026–2027 Company of the Year Program. The Program begins September 14; registration remains open through October 1.

Hagåtña, Guam — Junior Achievement Guam is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2026–2027 JA Company of the Year Program, an immersive entrepreneurship experience that gives high school students the opportunity to create, operate, and manage their own businesses with guidance from local professionals.

The program officially begins on September 14, 2026, and student registration will remain open through October 1, 2026.

The program is open to high school students who are interested in business, entrepreneurship, leadership, creativity, or developing new ideas. No previous business experience is required.

Students interested in participating should register no later than October 1, 2026 at:

https://forms.gle/5yZC7qEZg1AYFiYw9

About Junior Achievement Guam

Junior Achievement Guam empowers young people with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in school, the workplace, and their communities. Through hands-on programs focused on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and career readiness, JA Guam connects students with business professionals and community leaders who provide practical learning experiences and mentorship.

2026

Visitor Arrival Statistics

Click here

View Guams SBDC'S

2026

Training Events!

View Guam APEX

Accelerators

2026

Training Events