NI execs explore grant opportunities with USDA

U.S. Department of Agriculture area director Joseph Diego discussed grant opportunities with Northern Islands Mayor Jerome Aldan and Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council chair Tonie Tudela during a meeting last Thursday.

The Community Facility, Rural Business Enterprise, and Community Connect grants were some of the topics discussed.

Diego called these grants some of the “low-hanging fruit” ready available for the CNMI, describing the CNMI’s high unemployment rate and its designation as a Substantially Underserved Trust Area, or SUTA, as a “high advantage.”

SUTA-designation, for example, can drop loan rates from 3.75 percent to 2 percent, according to Diego.

Chartering a vessel to the island of Pagan was discussed through the Community Facility grant, as part of a project for the island’s resettlement.

Tudela also took interest in the business enterprise grants to promote culture and local crafts in the CNMI.

A “three-pronged” approach was discussed with this grant of $50,000: a general conference to have those interested sign up for a local crafts apprenticeship; choosing those who would most like share these crafts with the community; and then documenting and sharing the work done.

Crafts discussed were blacksmithing, making coconut graters, jewelry and braid making with corals and natural items, learning herbal remedies, bull-cart and canoe making, among other things.

The Community Connect Grant, which aims to bring broadband services to rural communities, was also discussed to bring Internet-use to Pagan.

This grant could be used to construct or acquire facilities for broadband service and could be used to build a community center.

According to USDA, the Community Facility Grant aims to provide healthcare, public safety or public and community services to small and low-income communities.

The grant targets small and emerging businesses in rural areas and can be used to acquire or develop land, or build, convert, or renovate infrastructure; the capitalization of revolving loan funds including funds that will make loans for startups and working capital; training and technical assistance; distance adult learning for job training and advancement; rural transportation improvement; and project planning, according to USDA.