$800,000 in first CARES Act grants for American Samoa
Washington, D.C. – Monday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata is welcoming the first federal funding from the new CARES Act, over $800,000 in COVID-19 assistance grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
As soon as the CARES Act was signed into law on Friday, HUD began moving $3 billion in grants nationwide to address coronavirus efforts, two of which are slated for American Samoa. These COVID-19 recovery funds total $801,685.
“The CARES Act is going to make an important difference in American Samoa,” said Aumua Amata. “These are the first federal funds from this new law. I want to thank President Trump and HUD Secretary Dr. Ben Carson for understanding the need to put these funds to work as soon as possible.”
These grants to American Samoa Government fall under two HUD programs: Emergency Shelter Grants and Community Development Block Grants (CBDG). HUD has allocated $532,457 for American Samoa from the CBDG program and $269, 228 from the Emergency Shelter program.
“More funds are on the way from the CARES Act to qualifying individuals, to the unemployed, as well as grants like these and other assistance,” continued Amata