2. The poor know concrete…
In developing nations many of the homes and
buildings are built with concrete or some type of
cement-based materials. Unfortunately, people
with very little money make some of the World’s
poorest concrete.
Regardless, they have years of experience
building with these materials. If they use their
skill correctly they can make their lives better with the materials that
they know best. This skill and good tools can combine to elevate
many out of the grip of poverty.
Turn what they know into income…
The easiest way out of poverty is to take an existing skill and turn it
into a regular income. Investing in Small and Medium Enterprises
(SME’s) leverages these skill sets to improve living conditions for
entire communities. The entrepreneurial spirit of the skill-based SME
spreads the income between many workers and provides a
prescription to help solve poverty on a larger scale.
Stop a terrible cycle…
Poverty has created a situation where skill is trumped by reality.
Because of the lack of funds, skilled cement workers are forced to
improvise and use shovels to mix concrete on the ground. This
mixing system creates poor quality block, concrete and mortar, which
in turn creates weak structures that fail and need replacing at every
disaster or storm.
This repeating cycle can be stopped if some
simple equipment is introduced into the
process. The industrialized world stopped this
cycle with mechanical mixing devices.
A group of small and medium concrete
services could put an end to the failing
concrete and devastation in poor countries as well.

3. Small and Medium Concrete Services…
With the goal to Build Back Better for Haiti and a desire to
decentralize the rebuilding efforts, it is logical to create small and
medium sized enterprises that meet these objectives. Many small
concrete services can produce quality ready-mix, concrete building
block and other construction materials for their own towns or
neighborhoods.
Decentralized
Concrete
Services
Entrepreneurs will create a living wage for many other workers as
they supply the concrete to construction projects in all corners of the
country. Further, the building material supply chain will be enhanced
as these concrete SME’s establish locations closer to the communities
that they serve.
Examples of Concrete Services:
• Ready-mix concrete production
• Concrete block (CMU) manufacturing
• Concrete placement and finishing
• Masonry installation
• Concrete and masonry trades training
• Debris removal and recycling

4. Small and Medium Ready-mix Production…
Even the simplest permanent housing design includes a concrete
foundation. Most specify a slab of concrete as the flooring system on
which the structure is anchored. Some use additional concrete for
columns or walls.
A small ready-mix enterprise could easily supply several of these
foundations and other needs each day. Using a simple hand-loaded
mechanical mixer, a crew of 4 to 6 workers could supply quality
concrete to homeowners or to a
concrete finishing crew.
During a community rebuilding effort,
one or two small ready-mix crews could
quickly move up rows of homes,
producing batch after batch of material
for other crews to finish.
A medium sized ready-mix enterprise
would use a increased capacity
mechanical mixer and support the work
with a tractor to improve efficiency.
Mixers with the capability to produce a
cubic meter at a time will allow the
mid-size entrepreneur to complete
more foundations or concrete pours
each day.
The current Haitian building plan is to produce 250,000 new
permanent housing units by the end of 3rd year of reconstruction.
Many of these homes are planned to be built in communities without
access any concrete services.
With these ambitious targets, there will be many business
opportunities in the ready-mix production sector for motivated
entrepreneurs. As the NGO’s, banking and government groups work
together to establish SME’s in concrete services, thousands of Haitian
workers will have the ability to lift their local economies using current
skills.

5. Small and Medium Block Manufacturing…
Concrete Masonry Units or CMU’s are the most common building
block for construction. Thousands of Haitian workers know how to
build using these products. The problem is that once you travel out
away from Port-au-Prince, the quality of the blocks drops
dramatically.
Quality CMU’s are produced with a standard recipe
of course sand, cement and extreme pressure.
The machinery to produce a quality block can be
simple or very sophisticated. Small concrete block
manufacturing operations can produce a quality
block if it is done correctly. The problem is that
currently many do the material mixing on the
ground and skimp on powdered cement. Then
instead of extreme pressure the form the blocks by
hand.
By allowing entrepreneurs access to the correct equipment to mix
and compress blocks, the home builders would receive better CMU’s
to work with. In addition, the block supply chain would benefit from
a decentralized manufacturing network that would allow smaller
communities to be supported by local SME’s. Larger towns or regions
can be supplied by expanded block manufacturers with a medium-
sized operation.
Securing the concrete block manufacturing
equipment will require a significant investment
between various factions in order to support
individual Haitian business people. But the
market for block will require that hundreds of
thousands of CMU’s be produced for many
years to come. Block manufacturing facilities
will employ thousands of workers to keep up
with the demand. When commercial and
industrial buildings are included the numbers
will really climb for this product sector.

6. Materials Delivery…
There are a several supply chain business opportunities that will
naturally spring-up from both ready-mix production and block
manufacturing. These include the delivery of Portland cement bags
and the mining and delivery of sand and rock. As the specifications
for quality raw materials improve, there will be many jobs created to
screen and size the raw sand and rock prior to delivery. Cement
bagging operations are generally centralized and owned by multi-
national firms, but still employ many local workers.
All of these products will require trucking
resources to move the supplies to the end
users. We foresee a vibrant trucking opportunity
in the rural areas of the country, just to supply
ready-mix and block production.
Concrete Placement and Finishing…
In the industrialized world contractors or for-hire
businesses leverage their skills in the building
trades into business ventures. The Haiti home
construction segment is a combination of for-hire
built and self-construction projects. SME’s that
support the building of homes, schools, churches
and other small to mid-sized projects should find
plenty of opportunity during the rebuilding cycle. Some of the
entrepreneurs may combine ready-mix production and concrete for-
hire businesses under one umbrella.
Masonry Installation…
There will be an enormous number of block projects completed in all
corners of the country; there should be many opportunities for skilled
masons to find work. Some may also follow the contracting/for-hire
path into a SME. Masonry projects of almost any size will require
hiring several workers and can only add to the employment rolls.

7. Concrete and Masonry Trade Schools…
One of the stated goals of the
government of Haiti is to
improve the education and skills
of the people. If there is one
thing that is at the top of mind
among Haitians, it is bad
concrete and masonry work. This
issue is fertile ground for those
who wish to improve the quality
of these cement-based trades.
SME’s that are focused on vocational or peer to peer training in
concrete production, construction engineering, masonry application
or building design should have a strong market for students.
Engineering and construction graduates from the University system
should be given the entrepreneurial opportunity to train the next
generation of Haitian construction workforce.
Concrete Debris Removal and Recycling…
Following the January quake there are millions of cubic meters of
rubble that will need to be removed, recycled and then reused.
Forward thinking entrepreneurs should be able to use modern tools
and equipment to form unique SME’s to address this issue. Already
there a many paid employment opportunities in this space, but many
more could be created by these businesses.
Jobs, Jobs, Jobs…
The plan is to rebuild the infrastructure, roads, buildings and homes
using the Haitian people. The five-year goal is 400,000 permanent
housing units and 500,000 construction jobs. Most of these homes
and those jobs will fit within the current skill of the Haitian workforce.
They will just need some assistance to move the plan forward.

8. What Can We Do?
The list of issues and roadblocks to rebuilding a better Haiti may
seem long and everyone knows that some things will take many
years to complete. But one thing is true: Haitians know concrete and
they understand cement-based construction. It is time to give these
skilled workers the tools, training and help that will allow them to
rebuild their country with their own hands. We can provide them with
the opportunity to profit from several Small and Medium Concrete
Enterprises.
Cart-Away’s Skill-Set…
Our equipment design and manufacturing team is uniquely qualified
to assist in this process. For over 17-years we have lead the small
and medium concrete mixer industry in the USA. We have assisted
hundreds of entrepreneurs to enter or
to improve their businesses using
specialize concrete mixing equipment
and services.
Our team includes skilled engineers, manufacturing experts and
experienced marketers. We have designed and sent into service
thousands of pieces of equipment for the ready mix concrete
industry. We have created business operational manuals and training
courses to support varying concrete business systems.
Our staff includes experts in supply chains, concrete precasting,
construction management and business management.
It is our intention to combine our skill with government or non-
government organizations to benefit the Haitian concrete
construction industry. We can do something to help Haiti Build
Back Better…
Contact Bruce Christensen of the Cart-Away Project Haiti team.
bc@cart-away.com or 503-434-4444 (Portland, Oregon)
http://cart-away.com/haiti.htm