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Pula: NMI may be eligible for $11M grants
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Posted on Sep 24 2008
The Northern Marianas may be eligible for $11 million in federal grants for capital improvement projects in fiscal year 2009, according to a visiting official of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Nikolao Pula, director of the Interior Department’s Office of Insular Affairs, said the money will be available to the Commonwealth once the U.S. Congress makes the appropriation.
“It will not be available right away because we’re still on continuing resolution. But that is the amount the CNMI will be eligible to receive, assuming Congress approves it,” he said.
Pula is on island to meet with local leaders about the Commonwealth’s electrical power situation and how the Interior Department can help. He said discussions will focus on the CNMI’s resources and its long-term plans for the power system.
According to the OIA website, the CNMI has received almost $8 million in CIP funds this fiscal year. About $5.57 million will fund the installation of an instrument landing system and other projects at the Tinian International Airport. The remainder is for various projects including the Rota Health Center, Saipan Marpi Public Cemetery; Koblerville and Kagman high school; Saipan power plant rehabilitation; and collateral equipment for the Rota public library.
With the Interior Department’s consent, millions of dollars in CIP funds have already been reprogrammed to the repair of Saipan’s power plants. The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. is expecting to need about $2 million to $4 million for the rehabilitation of two major engines at the main power plant. Today is the deadline for bids for this project. CUC is looking to OIA to provide the funding this effort.
