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A. Samoa gets $10M CIP grants
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Office of Insular Affairs Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas Esther Kia’aina announced yesterday more than $10 million in grant assistance to the American Samoa government through the Office of Insular Affairs’ Capital Improvement Project Program. Funds will support a number of critical infrastructure projects in the territory, improving its transportation, health and educational services.
“These grants represent our commitment to the people of American Samoa and we are pleased to be supporting the efforts of Gov. Lolo Moliga in his efforts to improve the quality and standard of living in the territory,” said Kia’aina.
The following grants were awarded:
- $1,500,000 for the rehabilitation of the debilitated Service Wharf;
- $1,544,180 supporting the design and construction of a multi-purpose passenger/cargo ferry to the Manu’a Islands;
- $300,000 a local match for Federal Aviation Administration-Airport Improvement Program projects at American Samoa airports;
- $2,500,000 for the design and renovation of the existing labor delivery room, nursery, and operating suite at the Lyndon B. Johnson Tropical Medical Center;
- $2,600,000 to complete the construction of a Multipurpose Building at the American Samoa Community College;
- $1,000,000 to purchase new school buses to alleviate overcrowding;
- $100,470 for the operations of the CIP Administration Office; and
- $502,350 for operations and maintenance of CIP projects
“I am pleased that the department continues to be able to support the government of American Samoa with meaningful infrastructure projects to provide critical resources that will help boost economic development and bolster the territory’s transportation, health and education systems,” Kia’aina said. “I am particularly excited to be working with LBJ to improve their facility, increasing patient capacity and making the first meaningful expansion of the labor delivery room. We realize that in a challenging fiscal environment with fewer federal resources, infrastructure projects such as these are important to island communities and would not be possible without local leadership and the continued support in Congress.” (OIA)
