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NMTI asks $78K for typhoon rebuilding from Torres
A request for funding from the Northern Marianas Technical Institute to repair damage to its building from Typhoon Soudelor is still pending with the Office of the Governor.
NMTI turned to the Gov. Ralph DLG Torres last April 13, asking for $78,800 for the cost of materials needed to rebuild their currently facility and for additional classrooms and shops inside the destroyed building.
In that April letter, NMTI says they have searched numerous avenues for financial assistance so their students can be afforded classrooms and carpentry and automotive shops but were unsuccessful.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, they said, also disqualified them for funding on two grounds: the facility was not a single-family dwelling and second, the facility belongs to the government, not NMTI.
The U.S. Small Business Administration also found NMTI ineligible for a loan based on their ability to repay the loan, NMTI said.
NMTI said that their training program takes place in a substandard learning environment, emphasizing, among others, that the CNMI cannot expand and upgrade its manpower-training program if their facility is in such a condition.
Notably, NMTI points to the “Community Chest Fund” that is to be paid out by Best Sunshine International, Ltd, per its exclusive casino licensing agreement.
“Governor, we understand that we are not the only entity that turns to you for financial assistance…We know that training our human resources to assist in the economic development of our islands is one of your top priorities, especially in the vocational, technical, and trade areas. We also understand that the Community Chest fund is available for educational and training purposes.”
“…NMTI is playing a major role in providing training for our local people in numerous vocational and trades areas so they become employable in the CNMI’s businesses and industries and thereby actively participate in the economic development of our islands.”
