Community to learn about projects supported by Tourist Attraction Fund

HAGÅTÑA, Guam—Various nonprofit organizations receiving pass-through appropriations from the Tourist Attraction Fund will be given the opportunity to appraise the public of the outcomes of their grant funding.

Senator Tina Rose Muña Barnes will hold an informational hearing on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016 from 8am to 2pm to discuss the merit of their projects.

“This informational hearing will allow the community to discover the work of these nonprofits, what they have accomplished with their pass-through appropriation from the Tourist Attraction Fund, and how their work benefits the island,” stated Muña Barnes.

The pass-through appropriations funded in fiscal year 2016 from the Tourist Attraction Fund provided financial assistance to organizations like the Ayuda Foundation for their project envisioning the ancient Chamorro village of Litekyan offering the people of Guam and visitors a glimpse of the Ancient Chamorro life; Haya’ Foundation and their work with Suruhanu’s and traditional Chamorro medicine; as well as organizations such as the Guam International Film Festival, Guam Symphony Society, Duk Duk Goose, Inc. that present Guam’s heritage and culture in new way.

Additionally, pass-through appropriations provided funding for the Micronesian Cruise Association to develop a plan for Guam’s Cruise Industry and Guam Unique Merchandise and Art (GUMA) providing grants for local entrepreneurs; preservation efforts with the Historic Inalahan Foundation and Humatak Foundation; and the Tourism Education Council’s work in advancing tourism related education.

“We need to continue to support the various nonprofit organizations that work to perpetuate our culture, language, and heritage as well as foster new economic opportunities for the people of Guam,” said Muña Barnes. “Accordingly, we have to account for the merit of their projects funded with public money and justify it as we face this deficit.”

Pass-through appropriations are working in tandem with our tourism goals to develop and diversify our tourism industry by expanding our cultural resources and promoting our heritage. These organizations fill in the gap of services needed for our people to take advantage of new opportunities and enrich their understanding of their culture and heritage.

“I’m very appreciative of all the work these nonprofit organizations have been able to provide for our people and I’m glad their work will be available for the public to utilize in the future,” says

Muña Barnes, “Many of these organizations have been able to deliver a return of investment tenfold in new opportunities created for cultural practitioners and entrepreneurs as well as in learning and reference materials and literature that the people of Guam can use to benefit their understanding of the Chamorro culture.”