Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Development Bank of American Samoa (DBAS) has filed an application for funding under the Good Jobs Challenge program, administered by the U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA).

DBAS’s funding request is among the 500+ applications from states and territories received by EDA, which explained that the applicants represent significant interest from a diverse range of stakeholders in communities across the U.S.

“Together, these applicants demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting underserved communities and groups with barriers to employment,” EDA said in a national news release. The high interest in the program shows the need for workforce development opportunities for communities, workers, and businesses across the country.”

DBAS program application is titled: DBAS Tautua Initiative — Improving the Human Capital in American Samoa. Funding amount requested by DBAS and other entities across the U.S was not released by EDA, which is now reviewing the requests.

The $500 million funding for the Good Jobs Challenge program is provided under provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and designed to help get Americans back to work by developing holistic regional workforce systems with strong sectorial and employer partnerships that will lead to good-paying jobs.