Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — American Samoa will receive more than $10M of grant funding under the Capital Improvement Project (CIP), awarded by the U.S. Department of the Interior's Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) for fiscal year (FY) 2021.

In the official OIA release, Keone Nakoa, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs, stated, "The Biden-Harris administration is pleased to support and strengthen opportunities for economic development, efforts to address climate change, and investments in health care for families in the territories."

CIP funds help create opportunities to bridge the difference in budget needs and local funds and promote self-sufficiency.

U.S. territories use CIP fundings to address various infrastructure needs, including critical infrastructures such as hospitals, schools, wastewater, and solid waste systems. American Samoa may utilize the funding as leverage to match local funds allotted for other federal grant programs related to disaster recovery.  Partly due to ASG not having a sufficient source of local funding needed to carry out government operations. 

American Samoa's fiscal year 2021 CIP grants will be awarded as follows:

• ●          Department of Public Works — Road repair and maintenance, drainage and retaining wall - $1,400,000
• ●          Lyndon B. Johnson Tropical Medical Center Labor and Delivery continuing renovations — $1,200,000
• ●          American Samoa Shipyard Services Authority supplemental funding for the ongoing restoration to the 3000-ton slipway — $1,200,000
• ●          American Samoa Telecommunications Authority fiber-optic cable repair and maintenance at Aunu'u and Manua — $1,000,000
• ●          Department of Port Authority maintenance and repairs at airport lounge and overhang — $1,000,000
• ●          Lyndon B. Johnson Tropical Medical Center four ambulances — $1,000,000
• ●          American Samoa Power Authority four rear-loading garbage trucks — $1,000,000
• ●          Department of Public Works heavy equipment including specialized loaders, trucks, and excavators — $1,000,000
• ●          Department of Public Safety four quick-attack fire trucks — $966,000
• ●          American Samoa Government Operations and Maintenance set-aside funding for project maintenance - $514,00

"This is great news for the territory and its citizens. Lt. Governor Talauega and I would like to commend Congresswoman Aumua Amata, OIA Director Nikolao Pula, OIA American Samoa Field Representative Lydia Faleafine-Nomura, and the entire OIA staff.

“Assisting our people in securing significant funding for many of American Samoa's highest priorities is never an easy job," explained Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga.

He continued, "this funding represents your continued commitment to the people of American Samoa. We are eager to utilize this to improve the quality and standard of living in the territory."