Inos, Nielsen attend IGIA grants conference

Much progress was made during a three-day conference entitled “Strengthening Federal-Insular Grant Alliances,” sponsored by the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the Interagency Group on Insular Areas (IGIA) on October 17-19, 2000 in San Francisco, California.

Danny Aranza, the Director of DOI’s Office of Insular Affairs, said: “DOI and the IGIA brought together Federal and Insular area government officials who specialize in Federal grants or manage Federal grants for a first ever all insular areas (flag territories) conference which focused on grants management and financial accountability. Although this was only the initial conference, we expect this to be a continuing effort by DOI and the IGIA. Many specific problems and challenges were identified through an extremely candid dialogue between Federal government and insular area representatives. ”

In the few short months since President Clinton first directed the Executive Branch to address the territories’ needs and issues through the IGIA, significant strides have been made in response to the individual objectives of the governments. This was a working conference which allowed a mix of career policy and program administrators to “roll up their sleeves,” and deal with the real, pressing, relevant issues which these government workers face. The design of the conference called for attendance by the Insular areas’ chief financial officers and those intimately involved in overall grants/loan administration and coordination like CNMI Commissioner of Education, Rita Inos who commended the conference.

” I just want to say how productive and needed this type of a forum is for the Insular areas. Beyond my imagination and expectations and a special thanks goes to Danny Aranza and the IGIA! Real conversations began to resolve immediate concerns through better communication mechanisms, such as collaboration and coordination. For me and the Public School System, we advocated getting DOI and other Federal agencies’ support on a CNMI interagency comprehensive workforce investment proposal.”

The wide range of important matters related to: (1) enhancing the process of new funding opportunities; (2) increasing the islands’ competitive advantage when applying for grants; (3) enhancing fiscal accountability and program performance in the delivery of grant programs. This event served as a “diagnostic,” to get a handle on the issues, and to get a commitment for subsequent conferences which will focus on solutions to the concerns raised.

As CNMI Director of Finance Lucy Nielsen pointed out: “We are very pleased with the conference’s tone and frank discussions. Federal representatives are open minded and appear to be listening to our concerns. Federal officials are genuine in their commitment to the Insular areas for needed support to access available grants and to be flexible enough to find other ways to be eligible for a grant, if the terms of a grant don’t fit the needs of the territory. We are impressed with the commitment to identify or modify grants to meet our unique needs and to support changes and new ways of communicating problem solving and resource access. We appreciate the participation of so many Federal representatives. It allowed us to meet and talk with real people. We look forward to a candid, supportive working relationship with OIA and the other Federal grantors.”

After identifying various problem areas, conference participants discussed potential solutions. Support for better internal controls, more complete audit follow up, greater diligence in program compliance, and the use of new technologies for grants management coordination were among the solution oriented action items that were discussed. Enhancing opportunities for Insular area participation in new and existing Federal grant and loan programs, obtaining timely technical assistance, and enlisting meaningful help in mediating management and accountability concerns were also just a few of the cross-cutting areas identified as needing stronger Federal-Insular Area Grant Alliances.