Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In the State of the Territory Comprehensive Report 2024 (TCR), the financial outlook for American Samoa highlights the collective work the Lemanu- Talauega Administration has done “to support the government and people of our Territory,” it states.

The 2024 TCR reviews the work of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Oversight Office in FY2023, citing its accomplishments within the framework of the ARPA initiatives of each project and program it implemented.

According to the TCR, “The Office has dealt with challenges including allocating funds most effectively and ensuring compliance among a wide range of departments, agencies, and project types.

“There remain, however, many opportunities and projects underway that will put the nearly $500,000,000 in State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to use in a way that will help American Samoa not only recover from the effects of the pandemic but prepare us for the future.”

In a Senate hearing held in September 2021, concerns were voiced to the Director of the ARPA Oversight Office, Keith Gebauer about how the governor and lieutenant governor met and decided on the priority projects and spending of the $479 million of ARPA funding without including Fono leaders in such a meeting and discussion.

According to the TCR, there are 17 projects in total and cover a range of healthcare challenges across the board.

PROJECT #1 — New Hospital, Fagaalu Hospital Improvements and Expansion, and Enhance Healthcare Workforce Capacity was allocated $300 Million. It has three (3) programs: a New Hospital, Fagaalu Improvements & Expansion, and Enhancement of Healthcare Workforce Capacity.

For the New Hospital less than 50% is indicated as completed; Contract was executed with AHL on Jan. 19, 2023; Space programing and schematic design phase has been completed; and the project is “currently in its Design Development phase and on track for its projected construction start date in October 2024.”

The Lemanu- Talauega decision to build a new hospital has been met with loud disapproval from not only the LBJ Medical Board and Community, but also from the Fono, especially the Senate.

Many reasons have been given to not build the new facility, including the fact that the allotted $200 Million does not fully fund the construction of the new hospital, as well as the difficulty of obtaining a workforce, especially in light of the nurse shortage currently being experienced by the LBJ medical facility.

However, Gov. Lemanu P.S. Mauga has been adamant that a new hospital will be built. The work is currently being led by a committee headed by the director of the Dept. Health, as Lemanu removed it from the LBJ Medical Center when its board and CEO came out against the decision to build a new hospital in Tafuna.

The other two programs are also listed as “less than 50%” completed, but are in progress. Samoa News has reported on both these programs in past issues in 2023.

PROJECT #2 — Behavioral Health Services & Drug and Alcohol Facility is allocated $24 Million.

There are two programs: 1) the Rehab Facility for Drug & Alcohol as well as Behavioral Health Services, and 2) a Vet Clinic relocation. $23,010,000 and $990,000 are allotted respectfully.

For the rehab facility the request for bidding forms is in progress and the award for a qualified bidder is pending.

There was a groundbreaking ceremony for the rehab center two years ago, but little has been known about its progress since. At the time, the governor announced that a $17M local rehabilitation facility would be built to provide long overdue care to community members seeking treatment and other evidence-based interventions.

The Veterinarian Clinic is listed as having a major renovation in progress (2023) and is awaiting a letter from the Governor’s Office to verify its location. Pending its survey location, the bidding form is in progress.

PROJECT #3 — Village Community Health Centers are allocated $20 Million and the project is broken down into 7 programs, which includes project planning and implementation for Ofu, Olosega, Ta’u, and Aunu’u Clinics with lease agreements in progress for each clinic as well as requests for bids in progress.

A COVID-19 Administration Building is also listed as part of the infrastructure development project, and there is also a Laboratory Conversion program in progress as part of the Infrastructure — Broadband: “Last Mile Projects”.

A medical expansion project for Fitiuta is identified, with project planning and implementation done and a request for bid in progress.

A project for an Aunu’u & Manu’a Medical Evacuation Vessel is listed too, with DOH said to be “conducting research for recommendations for the most appropriate type of vessel.” The amount of $770,000 has been allotted for the vessel.

PROJECT #4 — Non-profit Assistance Program (NAP) is allocated $4.8 Million and awards it to impacted nonprofit organizations during the health crisis.

Twenty-two applicants were approved and “almost 40% of the entire awarded funds has been encumbered and spent on both nonprofit projects and personnel.”

According to the TCR, 1 of the sub-recipients has completed their entire project, while 17 of them have begun spending their awarded funds and their projects are underway.

The 22 awardees are listed in the TCR, with the Hope House receiving the largest amount — $2.9 Million. There are 5 churches, which also received awards, of which CCCAS Kananafou got the most — $250,000. Other awardees include the Pala Lagoon Swimming Centers, Inc. and the Friends of the Museum of American Samoa. Non-profits dealing with drug and alcohol addiction in the community, as well as domestic violence received awards too.

PROJECT #5 — Business Recovery Capital Program (BRCP) – Revolving Line of Credit and BRCP Grants and Cash Assistance Program (CAP) was allocated $12 Million and is to mitigate financial hardships. The assistance was done through loans or grants through three programs lead by the Dept. of Commerce, and listed as closing out or termed out in 2023.

(Samoa News understands it includes the program that paid landlords monthly rent for their rental units if their renters applied.)

PROJECT #6 — New Seaport Facilities, Pago Pago International Airport Terminal Building Constructions, Enforcement, Isolation/Quarantine is allocated $40 Million with $20 Million allotted to the seaport facilities which at the moment the TCR states is “measured based on weekly meetings, weekly progress reports and monthly pay applications.”

Demolition of the seaport facility is complete, it was done in 2023.

Site visits by DPA are performed daily to “ensure the project is progressing according to the work plan and schedule.”

The other two programs, which include the airport terminal building reconstruction and the new inter-island transportation area development are in progress.

PROJECT #7 — DBAS MAOTA Affordable Loan Project (DBAS MALP) is allocated $8 Million. A lottery was conducted in 2022 to pick the winners to apply for home renovations and new homes.  25 applicants were selected for a chance to apply for home renovations, 7 applicants from Eastern District were pulled for new homes and 15 Western District applicants were selected for new homes.

“As of June 2023, DBAS have committed funding of $880,000 for 15 New Home Constructions for Tutuila residence and have disbursed $207,115.22.”

The recovery office states that “as of June 2023, we have committed funding of $523,996.00 for 32 Home Renovations for Tutuila residence and have disbursed $247,695.90.”

PROJECT #8 — Broadband iNEI is allocated $10 Million and awards $3.35 Million to ASTCA and Bluesky for their 5G network upgrade.

For ASTCA, it is “working with Ericsson to troubleshoot issues starting with Tafuna, and so far it has improved, but will get much better.”

For Bluesky, they are working in 3 phases for the deployment and launch of 5G NR across Tutuila and Aunu’u, with two new sites deployed in Sailele and Fagali’i, as well as the deployment of three sites in Manu’a.

ASTCA is allotted $2.8 Million to repair the Manu’a cable, which went down in 2021, after the undersea fiber-optic cable linking the Tutuila and Manu’a Islands failed, completely stranding the Manu’a Islands from all telecommunication services.

Currently, a microwave link between Tutuila to the Manu’a Islands is being used, with the installation of the microwave dishes and alignment with Ericsson’s remote support and guidance.

DOC was award $500,000 to monitor the project’s status.

PROJECT #9 — ASPA Water System Improvement Projects received $20 Million, and is broken down into 10 subprojects dealing with water salinity reductions, rehabilitation of welded steel tanks, pipe replacements, well exploration drilling and connections, and ACP replacements in Tafuna, Pago, Aua, Pago Hillside, and Airport Loop. The status of the 10 projects in various levels of completion.

PROJECT #10 — ARPA Cash Assistance Program (CAP) for Impacted Non-Profit Worker was awarded $200,000 for unemployment benefits or cash assistance to unemployed workers due to COVID restrictions. A total of 56 claims was received, with 6 still pending. Total amount paid out was $39, 214.

PROJECT #11 — Public Buildings CDC Compliance Program was allocated $12 Million. Public health safety and social distancing is the focus of the subprojects, which includes fumigations and pest control treatment, and new ventilation systems, as well as other needs each participating ASG department outlines as necessary.

Of interest, a new Vacuum truck was funded through the Dept. of Public Works allotment, and is projected to arrive on island in July 2024. Its cost is listed at $680,000. The rest of their funding was used on office cubicles.

Ten government departments received funding for this program: DHS, Office of Program Planning and Budget, Office of the Administrative Law Judge, Fono, DHR, DPS, DPW, and Treasury. All 10 departments are in various degrees of progress with their projects, with most at less than 50% completed.

The Fono project is contingent on the new building being completed.

PROJECT #12 — Protecting Communities from COVID-19 (Office of Samoan Affairs) was allocated $950,000 and is focused on renovations of its building, which are currently in progress.

PROJECT #13 — American Samoa Safe Travels Website Design, Development and Deployment is allotted $7.716 Million with total funds spent to date, $78,263.98. It says staff has been hired and are currently serving employment under funding. The project focuses on COVID-19 contact tracing.

Samoa News should point out that little has been heard of the current status of this project since 2022.

PROJECT #14 —ARPA Oversight Office Administration Program was allocated $3.754 Million and covers administrative costs.

PROJECT #15 — Public Safety- Keep American Samoa COVID Free program was allocated $1,907,200 and focuses on the Public Sector Workforce: Payroll and Benefits for Public Health, Public Safety, or Human Services Workers.

The program is completed, and ARPA says “54 police officers avoided layoff, including overtime pay for all public safety personnel who were required to provide 24-hour surveillance to combat the community spread of COVID-19.”

Funds were also used to renovate sub-stations to establish quarantine facilities for law enforcement personnel to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

PROJECT #16 — American Samoa Vaccination Program was allotted $2,665,254 to vaccinate the population with the COVID-19 vaccine. The program is completed and success rate is: “…84% of the population fully vaccinated with just short of 90% having at least one dose.”

PROJECT #17 — American Samoa Repatriation Program was allotted $16 Million and was for COVID-19 Public Health Expenses (Including Communications, Enforcement, Isolation/ Quarantine).

“Project is completed and closed out with any leftover funds to be redirected for allowable eligible projects. Close out reports and data information are to be processed and collected for office records and documentation.

“This project was a success and very effective considering the remote and isolated location of American Samoa in protecting the territory, promoting prevention strategies, and controlling the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the island community.”

Samoa News understands this is the program that helped fund the DOH program that allowed residents, who had been stranded in the US due to COVID restrictions, to travel back home.

Samoa News will continue to review on the areas of community interest of the 2024 TCR in its upcoming issues.