Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Despite the pandemic’s impact on global inflation and workforce shortages, ASG has benefited from an unprecedented influx of Federal relief funds.  “… even while free of community spread in the first two years of the pandemic,” this is according to a statement issued by the Government over the weekend.

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), a 1.7% decrease in GDP for American Samoa (2021) largely due to decreases in tuna exports was partly offset by increases in personal consumption expenditures, government spending, and private fixed investment.

Further, the BEA reported, “personal consumption expenditures increased 6.2 percent, primarily reflecting growth in spending on goods, such as food and beverages, clothing, and furniture.

 “Consumer spending was supported by government assistance payments distributed to households through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).”

 “Increases to social welfare program benefits and additional tax credits have had a massive impact on families across American Samoa. According to the Congressional Research Services, the impact of the Expanded Child Tax Credit from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) reduced childhood poverty across the nation by nearly half.”

The Lemanu Administration has continuously urged relevant departments of the timely disbursement of these benefits to ensure that families have more money in their pockets given the rising costs of food, gas, and electricity.

According to the statement, Gov. Lemanu P. S. Mauga has adamantly stressed to departments the need to address long-standing issues of outstanding payments to local vendors.

The following is a breakdown of the various tax credits, social welfare programs, and small business loans and grants that have been disbursed to the community in the last two years:

For tax credits and benefits to employees, the government says that in 2021, a total of over $173 million was disbursed to individuals and families in the form of economic impact payments/stimulus from the CARES Act, Appropriations Act and ARPA EIP programs, the AS Child Tax Credit, and the standard tax refunds with additional child tax;

 “In 2022, to date the Department of Treasury Tax office has disbursed 22 batches of tax returns for 11,327 people worth approximately $37.5 million ($9.4 million in local tax refunds, and $28.1 million in Child Tax Credit).”

For the benefits for Women, Children, and Families, in 2021 the Department of Human and Social Services disbursed approximately $30 million in payments to nearly 31,000 recipients benefiting low-income families and boosting our local economy.

This is the breakdown of these benefits and payments; ASNAP Division – Issued a total of $17,060,538 to 22,074 individuals; $6.67 M to 12,888 children in 1st round of Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT); ASWIC Division – redeemed $4,224,290 in benefits to 4,432 individuals.

For the Child Care Division a total of $7,107,716 benefitted an average of 800 families and approximately 1,200 children.

 “Children and Family Services Division issued a total of $32,000 in Rental Assistance Payments to 67 recipients.

 “In 2022, the Department of Human and Social Services has since disbursed approximately $28.3 million in payments to nearly 24,000 recipients benefiting low-income families and boosting our local economy.”

According to the statement, the Department of Commerce has disbursed for the Cash Assistance Program for Impacted Businesses $1,020,707.74 to 173 business applicants; an additional 49 applicants will be expected to receive a payment of $89,660.56 resulting in a total disbursement of $1,110,368.30.

 “The Business Recovery Capital Program for Impacted Businesses (Grant & Line of Credit) approved 192 business applicants for grant assistance resulting in $3,921,304.87 in grant awards to local businesses.

 “To date, a total of $510,342.16 has been paid out based on submissions from each approved subgrantee.”

A total of 27 applicants were approved for the line of credit, which translates to $4,545,000. Regarding the Emergency Rental Assistance Program they disbursed $2,667,239 benefiting a total of 470 families (139 landlords).

While the Cares Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund has funded a total of $1.83 Million to assist new and existing businesses in the Territory.

 “The CARES Community Services Block Grant committed $50,000 in support of the GiveLight Initiative that aided 602 families with credit for electricity.”

The Department of Human Resources has disbursed the ARPA Cash Assistance Program Unemployment for Impacted Employees has issued a total of $1,518,275 in benefits to 2,451 private sector employees that were impacted during Code Red and subsequent restrictions in business hours. An additional 1,096 applicants are expected to receive disbursement pending approval.

 “ The NonProfit ARPA Cash Assistance Program Unemployment for Impacted Employees has encumbered $43,486 in benefits to 50 individuals to be released shortly.”