Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) is awarding more than $1.38 million in airport aid to American Samoa’s three airports to help respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency, according to a USDOT national news release yesterday.

Of the total award, just over $1.34 million is for Pago Pago International Airport and $200,000 each for the Ofu and Fitiuta airports in the Manu’a island group, according to US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) spread sheet for all US airports getting funds.

Asked for comments on the grant award, ASG Port Administration director Taimalelagi Dr. Claire Poumele told Samoa News, “We are excited and grateful to receive this funding opportunity to sustain the Airport Operations.”

“We have submitted our plans to the Governor and will share it with the media once the Governor has endorsed our plans,” she noted.

USDOT says the grant funding is part of the Trump Administration’s newly created Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Airport Grant Program, an effort to provide unprecedented and immediate relief to American families, workers, and businesses.

In the USDOT news release, US Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao points out that this $10 billion in emergency resources “will help fund the continued operations of our nation’s airports during this crisis and save workers’ jobs.”

“Thank you to the dedicated men and women from the FAA’s Office of Airports for creating an entirely new program in record time to assist airport sponsors in desperate need of these funds,” FAA Administrator Steve Dickson is quoted as saying in the same release.

According to USDOT, this funding will support continuing operations and replace lost revenue resulting from the sharp decline in passenger traffic and other airport business due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The funds are available for airport capital expenditures, airport operating expenses including payroll and utilities, and airport debt payments.

Samoa News notes that American Samoa’s borders are currently closed.

In her news release, Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed this new funding, and expressed appreciation to Chao and Dickson.

“These federal funds through the CARES Act coronavirus relief effort will help sustain airport operations during this time of precautions and fewer flights,” the Congresswoman said.

The FAA said it would use a streamlined application and grant-agreement process to make this funding immediately available for critical airport needs. The funds will be available as soon as the airport sponsor executes a grant agreement.

The FAA encourages airport sponsors to spend the grant funds immediately to help minimize any adverse impact from the current public health emergency. Airport sponsors should work with their local FAA Office of Airports field office on the application and grant-agreement process. (See www.faa.gov for more details.)