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B 37-38

AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE ONE MILLION DOLLARS ($1,000,000) FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 GENERAL FUND REVENUES COLLECTED IN EXCESS OF THE ADOPTED LEVELS ENUMERATED IN PUBLIC LAW 37-125 TO THE GUAM UNIQUE MERCHANDISE AND ART (GUMA) FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING MENTORING AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO START-UP BUSINESSES BEING DEVELOPED WITH THEIR PROGRAM

38th Guam Legislature

Guam allocates $1M in surplus revenues to GUMA program for startup mentoring and financial assistance to support new business development.

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Bill Summary · B 37-38

Legislative bill overview

Bill B 37-38 appropriates $1 million in surplus general fund revenues to the Guam Unique Merchandise and Art (GUMA) program. These funds will support mentoring services and financial assistance for startup businesses participating in GUMA's development initiatives.

Why is this important

Startup business support directly impacts economic diversification and job creation in Guam, particularly for small entrepreneurs. The mentoring and financial assistance components address two critical barriers to business success—access to expertise and initial capital—which can strengthen the local economy and reduce dependence on traditional sectors.

Potential points of contention

  • Surplus revenue reliability: The appropriation depends on excess revenues over adopted budget levels; if actual collections fall short, this funding may not materialize or could require reallocation from other priorities
  • GUMA program track record: The bill lacks details on GUMA's historical performance metrics, success rates, or accountability measures for how funds will be used and evaluated
  • Targeted vs. broad support: Concentrating $1 million in one organization raises questions about whether other startup programs or underserved business sectors might have competing claims for surplus revenues

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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