Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The 2024 State of the Territory Comprehensive Report (TCR) provides a look at the Lemanu & Talauega Administration’s key projects for improving and safeguarding the lives of “our people”, with most under development or in progress.

The lengthy document of more than 200 pages breaks down the state of the territory into nine areas of focus, and reviews projects and work within these areas.

Samoa News has reported on the Financial Outlook section of the TCR, now takes a look at the State of the Economy.

In this area, the plan to erect a new medical facility in the western district — part of the Lion’s Park development — is briefly mentioned as “the governor’s new hospital” —  however, a medical plaza design project aimed to build a facility to “consolidate all our local private healthcare providers for the convenience of the public” is noted. The report states that the design is in its final stages and will be bid out for construction. It does not say where this plaza would exactly be located or what the funding source is.

According to the TCR, this is just one of the projects in its push to develop revitalization plans of certain areas in the Territory — creating new areas of business — focused mainly on technology and healthcare.

The plans got a big push when the ASDOC was awarded American Rescue Plan Act's Capital Projects Fund (CPF) money amounting to $14.3M in June 2023 to support a multi-purpose community facility as part of the development of a Tech Park campus in Lions Park, the TCR states.

This project is part of a larger (big picture) project to revitalize the Lions Park area. “More detailed information will be available concerning the CPF project in the coming months. It will be managed out of the Urban Planning & Development Division.”

The Urban Planning and Development Division had three major plans funded: the Lion’s Park Master Plan, the Downtown Fagatogo Revitalization Master Plan, and the Sports Complex Development Plan.

THE LIONS PARK MASTERPLAN is for the area across the street from the tennis, basketball, volleyball and pickle ball courts. The function of the area is to house healthcare facilities (the governor’s new hospital), commercial and private practices and businesses, a technology hub, etc. All existing tenants will eventually relocate as new construction begins.

THE DOWNTOWN FAGATOGO REVITALIZATION MASTER PLAN includes 10 sites for future development and revitalization, with the idea to create more public space for community use and future business opportunities. No funding source is noted.

THE SPORTS COMPLEX DEVELOPMENT PLAN includes a multipurpose stadium that will be used for different sports and community events. The facility would provide opportunities for American Samoa to host regional games, with sports tourism as another economic development opportunity for the Territory. There is no funding source mentioned in the report, nor where exactly it will be located. It is assumed it will be next to the Veterans Memorial Stadium.

MASTERPLAN UPDATE: Various projects are highlighted for sectors of the economy — including Tourism and Fisheries.

The DOC is working in collaboration with the American Samoa Visitors Bureau (ASVB) to update the Tourism Master Plan, which is currently considered outdated and unrealistic in its projects. ASVB is discussed in length, according to the direction it is taking to establish more local products or events for not only tourism but local interest too.

To date — only two areas continue to be looked at for tourism development: the Pago Pago Sky Tramway which currently has a feasibility study completed with the recommendation that it is “feasible and cost-effective to rebuild the Pago Pago Sky Tramway;” and the cruise ships that are once again on scheduled visits to Pago Pago shores.

The report lists workshops it has also held to help tourism in the territory. One such workshop was a Taxi and Bus Workshop hosted by the DOC. It focused on taxi and bus operators and owners servicing visitors to American Samoa with a focus on servicing cruise ships.

Samoa News should point out however, that in November 2023, DOC ‘evicted’ all Fagatogo taxi stands that have leases on government land, choosing not to renew them. To date, there has been no answer from DOC to the Fagatogo faipule’s request to reconsider their decision or provide alternative area(s) for lease to the taxi stands that are considered a vital part of transportation in the town area, meeting the needs of the town area’s residents.

For fisheries, the TCR notes the Super Alia Project is well on its way, with “the paperwork to hire the captain for the training platform is in progress as well as the master fisherman … These positions have been put forth through bidding processes and personnel advertisements.”

There is also “the DOC American Samoa Seafood Academy Training, Education, and Business Incubation Center that is now in the planning and set-up stages at the Fagatogo Marketplace. A landing area for fresh fish catches (harvest) has been approved by the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources. A 5-ton ice flake machine plant will also be erected. The first fishing vessel, which is the training platform will be shipped in early 2024.”

A Tafuna International Airport Food Court Area is also planned as part of the revitalization master plans but seems to be only in the ‘talking’ stage. The project is a partnership with the Department of Port Admin (DPA).

The significance of the ties between the two Samoas and exploring avenues for mutual development is highlighted, with emphasis on the “the Governor's vision to position American Samoa as the Hub of the Pacific in terms of economic development.” The Atoa o Samoa Talks are seen as playing a pivotal role in this platform for shaping the Territory’s economic future.

Samoa News will report further on the Administration’s report of the State of the Economy highlighted in the 2024 TCR in its upcoming issues.